By NIKOLE JAVIER
The Philippine national women’s football team is about to begin “the hardest four weeks of their lives” as they set camp in Australia this month.
As the historic first FIFA Women’s World Cup stint nears, co-captains Hali Long and Thanai Annis spearhead the provisional 29-woman pool named by Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic, which will be trimmed down to 23 for the global football meet.
Most of the players on the list will be present in the hectic month-long training which includes friendly matches before they head to New Zealand.
According to Filipinas defender Long, the healthy competition between the players who are vying for a deserved spot in the pool is “what makes the team better.”
“I think we’ve set that internally just as a group of girls, we knew our pool was big but then have narrowed it down to to like a core of (29) players, depending on availability, so it really does spark that fire about putting your best foot forward,” said Long during the special send-off event hosted by the New Zealand Embassy.
The Filipinas got a massive boost this week alone after FIFA announced that it will be paying participating players $30,000 each in the group stage.
Most importantly, the Philippines moved up three places in the latest rankings from No. 49 to No. 46, its highest FIFA ranking after qualifying for the biggest football event.
Players
Goalkeepers
Kiara Fontanilla
Kaoya Jota
Olivia McDaniel
Inna Palacios
Defenders
Maya Alcantara
Alicia Barker
Angela Beard
Reina Bonta
Malea Cesar
Jessika Cowart
Sofia Harrison
Hali Long
Dominique Randle
Midfielders
Tahnai Annis
Ryley Bugay
Anicka Castañeda
Sara Eggesvik
Kaya Hawkinson
Eva Madarang
Jessica Miclat
Isabella Pasion
Quinley Quezada
Jaclyn Sawicki
Forwards
Sarina Bolden
Isabella Flanigan
Carleigh Frilles
Katrina Guillou
Chandler McDaniel
Meryll Serrano
