The Philippine National Women’s Football Team remains undefeated after two starts in the ongoing AFF Women’s Championship 2022 here in the country.
The team shocked Australia, 1-0, in their opening game and followed it up with a 7-0 demolition of Singapore last Wednesday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium (RMS) to grab the solo lead in group A with six points. At least six Filipinas scored a goal each against the helpless Singaporeans. The team’s offense was in full throttle that Bai Mike Limpag said the team was scoring even if it is not trying to do so—courtesy of an own goal by the Lionesses in the 10th minute. The team was on point on defense as well throughout the whole game.
Thailand is currently at second place with four points, Malaysia at third with 2 while Australia, Indonesia and Singapore have a point each.
Up next for the Filipinas is Malaysia tonight, 7 p.m. at RMS and Indonesia on Sunday, July 10, same time and venue before ending their group fixtures against Thailand on Tuesday, July 12.
If the team keeps its winning ways against Malaysia and Indonesia, then it can qualify to the last four even before meeting Thailand, but then again, we are getting ahead of the story.
Can’t blame The Designated Kit Man though. The two wins gave the Filipinas the momentum, and barring any upsets, the team is in control of their destiny and even their opponents, so far, in the tournament.
Despite this, the team can’t afford to lose sight of its goals against Malaysia and Indonesia. They still need to beat them to avoid complications going to the game against Thailand.
Unlike the Filipinas, the country’s team in the AFF U19 Championship 2022 in Jakarta, Indonesia is in a bind. The boys are currently mired in a three-game losing streak and remains winless and pointless after losing to to Thailand, 1-0, in their opening game; dropped a 4-1 loss to Vietnam and went down 3-1 against Myanmar in their last game.
With two more games left, the boys have formally bowed out of the tournament but they can still play for respect and experience against Indonesia and Brunei. If the boys are playing on home turf, it is possible that we might have a different result.
For the Filipinas, topping their group will be big, no doubt, and somehow taking on the number 2 seed in group B may be a good strategy rather than facing the top team. But no matter which teams come out in Group B, the Filipinas will be ready.
And the fans should be too.
The Filipinas are very impressive in their first two games. And they are peaking at the right time. That is why expectations are very high that the team’s campaign will run deep in the tournament. And the presence of more fans at RMS rooting for the Filipinas will be big factor as the tournament goes on.
The team will not disappoint the fans braving the traffic, the rains and the excuses just to see them play.
Which football loving fans in the country should not pass. This rare opportunity to see the Filipinas play live at RMS should not be wasted. No time difference. No need to search for live streaming as compared when the team is playing abroad. Just a challenging hop to Rizal. The Philippine Football Federation moved heaven and earth to have the tournament here. It even had a major TV network air the games live but nothing beats watching the game in Rizal.
So I encourage everyone to come and watch our team play. If you have extra cash come and see them live. Let your voices and cheers be heard. Don’t shy away from the seeing our football heroines shine and deliver their best for flag and country. Lose your mind by watching the games, forget about work or your worries for at least 90 minutes.
Reconnect with your football buddies you haven’t seen for more than two years. Lose your voice, lose your head, heckeven lose your soul for a bit while soaking with the atmosphere only football can give. And more importantly, make the most of the chance to give your time and energy to support the best football team that we have right now.
The tournament has just started and there are three more games for the Filipinas in the group stage and hopefully two more in the knockout phase.
Be part of the experience, not the bandwagon because it is not, and will never be, the same.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat