Stajcic makes tough choices for PH team’s final WC roster

By Peter Atencio

TOUGH choices were made in finalizing the composition of the 23-member Philippine national women’s football team, which will make its historic FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance in New Zealand.

Coach Alen Stajcic said this after he and the coaching staff completed the team roster, which is led by co-captains Tahnai Annis captain Hali Long.

Other members of the team are goalkeepers Kiara Fontanilla,Kaiya Jota, Olivia McDaniel; defenders Alicia Barker, Angela Beard, Reina Bonta, Malea Cesar, Jessika Cowart, Sofia Harrison, Dominique Randle; midfielders Ryley Bugay, Anicka Castañeda, Sara Eggesvik, Quinley Quezada, Jaclyn Sawicki; forwards Sarina Bolden, Isabella Flanigan, Carleigh Frilles, Katrina Guillou, Chandler McDaniel, Meryll Serrano and reserves Inna Palacios, Maya Alcantara and Isabella Pasion.

The final list was drafted following the conclusion of their four-week camp in Sydney.

here,” Long told AFP at a practice session with the Manila club she and national goalkeeper Inna Palacios play for.

“It’s not the beauty pageants, boxing and basketball; we don’t have a ‘B’.”

Palacios, one of the few players born in the Philippines, said more investment was needed to find and develop young talent in the poverty-plagued country.

“We don’t have the fields or a place to play,” said Palacios.

“It was tagged as a... sport for people who are rich and can afford fields and shoes, but in reality you just need your feet and a ball.”

Playing catch-up

Stajcic is a major reason for the Philippines’ improvement.

He brings a wealth of experience in a playing and coaching career in Australia.

He coached Australia at the 2015 World Cup and took the Matildas to as high as fourth in the FIFA rankings, but was dumped despite guiding them to the 2019 tournament.

Stajcic says that being able to get the squad together for extended periods, including a 10-week training camp in the United States before the Asian Cup, has been another reason for their dramatic upturn. AFP with victories in the boys’ 14-15 200m Individual Medley and 100m butterfly, clocking 2:14.33 and 57.46 seconds, respectively. He broke the QTS of 2:14.83 and 58.43.

“Over the last 18 months, we’ve given a lot of players their opportunity and grown the depth of this squad to a substantial level. In a positive way, we’ve got such a pool of players that made the final 23 (selection) even more difficult than I thought it would be,” said Stajcic.

The Filipinas are slated to depart for New Zealand on Monday morning and resume their final preparations for their first encounter against Switzerland on July 21 in Dunedin.

After that, the Filipinas take on host New Zealand on July 25 in Wellington, before finishing their Group A campaign against Norway on July 30 in Auckland.

“It was such an extremely tough choice, but these players were ultimately the ones who put their hands up and impressed the most in recent times,” added Stajcic.

The Filipinas’ pre-World Cup camp took place at the Western Sydney Wanderers Complex.

“We congratulate the 23 players selected for the Philippines in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and express our gratitude to the players, who have committed and sacrificed to make themselves available throughout the selection process,” said Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, Philippine Football Federation president.

The FINIS brand ambassador and holder of national records in the boys’ 13-under 50m butterfly (26.52), 100m fly (58.13), 50m backstroke (29.20) and 100m back (1:02.42), also claimed the gold in the 100m backstroke, clocking 1:01.73, but failing to surpass the QTS (1:01.30).

Bungabung, 16, member of the 8-man PH team in the world tourney last year in Lima, Peru, meantime, got another chance to don the Philippine colors as she topped the girls’ 16-18 50m freestyle in 27.58, breaking the QTS of 27.69. She is also part of the team in the Jakarta edition.

Their QBSC teammates Mishka Sy and Jalil Taguinod also shone in the event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Speedo, with the latter shattering the QTS in the girls’ 16-18 200m fly (2:29.07) and 200m back (2:29.86) via impressive times of 2:24.36 and 2:29.54, respectively, while the former ruled the boys’ 16-18 50m breast (29.88), bettering the QTS of 29.89.

“We have 15 young swimmers who surpassed the QTS in their respective events. We’re hoping, marami pa tayong mag-qualify from the three remaining tryouts. But for sure, we will send the best of the best in Jakarta, quality over quantity tayo,” said PSI president Miko Vargas, who awarded the medals to all the winners, along with secretary general Eric Buhain, event organizer Chito Rivera and technical head Richard Luna.