By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has appointed Australian Mark Torcaso as the new head coach of its women’s national team.
The federation made the announcement on Wednesday, Aug. 23, with the 42-year-old Torcaso filling the void left by fellow Australian Alen Stajcic, who decided not to continue his coaching stint after the Filipinas’ historic stint in the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“We welcome coach Mark (Torcaso) and his staff to the PFF family,” said PFF President Nonong Araneta in a statement.
“We are confident that they will continue raising the standards of the Philippine Women’s National Team on all aspects and take the team to greater heights at the back of a historic and memorable 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand,” he added.
Torcaso is the reigning A-League Women Coach of the Year, having led Melbourne-based Western United to the finals in its inaugural Australian league season early this year.
He has also worked with the India women’s national team in one of their camps last year.
PFF secretary general Atty. Edwin Gastanes said Torcaso will handle the team’s campaign in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China next month as well as the AFC Olympic Qualifiers in Perth, Australia in October.
“It is important that we continue the momentum from the Filipinas’ historic FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign in New Zealand,” said Gastanes.
Torcaso thanked the PFF for the opportunity for the opportunity, particularly to team manager Jefferson Cheng.
“Watching the development of the team over the last couple of years has been amazing, from the AFF Championship to the World Cup, and I feel honored to be able to try to continue this growth,” said Torcaso.
Australian Sinisha Cohadzic and Andrew Durante will serve as Torcaso’s assistants.
Cohadzic will also handle the girls’ under-17 and women’s under-20 teams.
