EDITORS DESK
There are plenty of reasons why the Philippine national women’s football team’s maiden campaign in the biggest stage, the FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand next month, is a must-watch for Filipino followers.
But as history beckons in the face of an important piece in Philippine sports, it’s a shame that we could not magnify the lady footballers’ exploits the way it should be in the grandest spectacle this tiny nation has ever reached.
The brave and proud national team, called the Filipinas, is sitting at No. 46 in the world rankings, will be tested in the World Cup against Norway (No. 12), Switzerland (No. 20), and host New Zealand (No. 26) in Group A of the competition.
It was a long journey for the Philippines to finally book a spot in the global showpiece, highlighted by a thrilling shoot-out win over Chinese Taipei in the Asian Cup quarterfinals in January 2022 that earned the Filipinas the golden ticket to the quadrennial meet.
The squad then absorbed a 2-0 loss to the mighty South Korea in the semifinals, but that did not dampen the morale of the players mentored by Australian coach Alen Stajcic.
From there, the Filipinas had a magnificent run that included a bronze-medal finish in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games, and the title in the AFF Women's Championship in front of a raucous home crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The buildup continued for the team, with a trip to a pocket tournament in Spain, an Olympic qualifying round in Tajikistan, and friendlies across South America and Australia.
With the players and coaches keeping themselves sharp and ready for the battle ahead, it is sad to know that they are still groping for additional funds with a little time left before the first whistle.
The local football chief, Nonong Araneta, has pegged the necessary training and logistical fees to $3 million (₱168 million). They have received ample support from FIFA and the Asian federation. Unfortunately, according to Araneta, the national government has yet to lend a helping hand for their needs. The Philippine Sports Commission, in a separate report, said it is willing to discuss possible financial aid for the squad.
Here comes another form of bad news: with less than five weeks left before the first game against Switzerland on July 21, the World Cup has yet to secure a Philippine television broadcast partner, a chilling development that could be heavy to the hearts of the Filipino fans.
Like in the previous Men’s World Cup in Qatar where Lionel Messi and Argentina basked in glorious celebrations, the country will likely not get a local TV provider. One could hope for a cable channel to offer access for an additional amount. But for the supporters with less on the pocket, it’s another scouring on illegal websites.
These sensible matters struck hard in the minds of the players as they prepare for the huge task at hand. But on the other side, you can see the fire in their eyes — the excitement, the eagerness to perform, the spirit of Filipina pride. It is the mission to stand out that keeps them going, to prove the doubters wrong, to give the non-believers the second hard look.
After all, this is not about money, it goes beyond marketing, investments, or a one-dimensional approach of empowerment in sports. They should not be begging for financial assistance, neither a bigger audience to watch them glow. It is a once in a lifetime event that we should see.
This is the Philippines, being represented in the World Cup — because the girls can.
(Ramon Rafael C. Bonilla is the head of Sports section of Manila Bulletin.)