The Philippine Women’s National Football team holds open training camp at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on August 23, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA – Philippine Football Federation (PFF) director of senior national teams Freddy Gonzalez shared what's in the pipeline for the women's national football team on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Under the guidance of Filipinas mentor Mark Torcaso, the coaching staff held an intense, week-long training camp to assess players who could join the local pool.
They want players who will fit right into the model they envision for the team, said Gonzalez.
"The way we want to play, you know, is a possession-based game--to penetrate, to go vertical, to always be attacking. So it's not just you know parking the bus and just counter-attacking. It's really being able to control the flow of the game and control the tempo," Gonzalez said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
"We're looking for players that can hold the ball, have the technical ability to be able to play with the ball in tight spaces, be able to withstand pressure, and get out of pressure, be able to transition from defense to attack really quickly," he added.
"And we're looking for fast speedy players, obviously. It's a results-based business, right, and the fans want results, but overall you want to be able to also get the Philippines to be able to finally play a style of football that we can all be proud of and not just sit back parking the bus, you know counter-attacking maybe some Hail Marys here and there."
Director of Senior National Teams Freddy Gonzalez talks about the attributes they look for in a player as the team builds its local pool. @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/5YtxLs3Tgp
— Kennedy Caacbay (@kennedyzcaacbay) August 22, 2024
The Filipinas will be busy by the end of the year, Gonzalez revealed, as they gear up for a pocket tournament in Turkey against Haiti, Jordan, and Mali.
"We don't have anything coming up in September, but we have a tournament in October in Antalya, Turkey, with the likes of Haiti, Jordan, and Mali, so that should be a good start for the overall women's team," he said.
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In a separate interview with the press, Gonzalez added that the Filipinas will also have matches in the country.
"The women’s team will have three matches here along with the U20 so the women's U20 will be here as well in November all the way 'til December... So in a span of a month, we will actually have seven home games between the Filipinas and the men's," he said.
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Star striker Sarina Bolden and other overseas-based players are expected to compete, according to Gonzalez.
"Expect that overseas-based players are going to be there. So the Sarina Boldens of the world will be there with us, so that would be the first time, I think they will be getting together for the senior team," he said.
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In the same media availability, the team unveiled commemorative jerseys that mark the Filipinas' triumph against New Zealand in the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Embedded in the clothes are the details of their victory, courtesy of Bolden's goal in the 24th minute against the then-co-host country.
LOOK: @PilipinasWNFT wearing commemorative jerseys marking the squad's triumph against New Zealand in the FIFA Women's World Cup @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/8vBZ12V7tR
— Kennedy Caacbay (@kennedyzcaacbay) August 23, 2024