Surgery is being scheduled for the anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained by Philippine national women’s football team key member Chandler McDaniel.
Medical care and rehabilitation are being sought for the 24-year-old McDaniel, after she suffered a knee injury during the Malditas’ match against South Korea in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup in India last February 3.
Because of her injury, McDaniel won’t be available for the Malditas when they see action in the Southeast Asian Games Games, the ASEAN Football Championships in Manila and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China later this year.
Chandler’s dad Clint said they are now seeking a final schedule for her surgery within the week.
“Hoping for next week, doing a little PT (physical therapy) to get her ready and cleared for surgery now,” said Clint in a statement.
Sports medicine doctors have checked up on Chandler last week following her arrival with sister Olivia in their hometown in Corona City at Riverside County in California.
She was diagnosed to have sustained an ACL injury on her right knee, which will need eight months of healing and rehabilitation.
The McDaniel siblings, Chandler, Olivia, Griffin, and Declan trace their Filipino heritage to Pampanga and Davao, where mom Lindy Isip’s parents are from.
Clint said he gave up his job as a junior club coach of the Corona SC football team and became a skills’ coach instead to focus on his four children when their passion to play soccer grew as they got older.
Chandler was one of the key players in the Malditas’ qualification bid to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
It was Chandler who booted in the winning goal against Thailand in their first match, boosting their chance to reach the quarterfinals.
The Malditas bowed to Australia, 0-4, then fought off Indonesia, 6-0, to barge into the quarterfinals. They reached the semis with a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals to secure a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Peter Atencio