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Post by cjeagle on Dec 20, 2022 8:56:11 GMT 8
www.bbc.com/sport/football/64019950?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGAPinatar Cup February 2023 Wales Philippines Scotland Iceland Good preparation for the Philippines. Unlike the previous friendlies the Philippines had this year where many players weren't available due to pro and college commitments or passports that were still pending, most likely most players will be available for call up in February so this tournament would be a good gauge on how they will do in the World Cup.
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Post by cjeagle on Dec 25, 2022 7:45:32 GMT 8
The PWNT had an early Christmas party in Australia last week before they left for home in their respective countries. The PWNT decided to post the photo on Christmas Eve though to celebrate the occasion. Merry Christmas girls and have a bountiful and successful New Year's.
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 14, 2023 10:02:22 GMT 8
Some of our few remaining unattached players are apparently heading to or are in Australia already including Eva Madarang who previously played pro in Spain and Italy, local Anicka Castañeda(De La Salle U), Kaya Hawkinson(Cal State Fullterton) both of whom graduated from college last year and youngsters 20 y.o. Carleigh Frilles and 19 y.o. Malea Cesar both of whom were still in college (which might affect their scholarships) to join pros Sarina Bolden, Jaclyn Sawicki and recent transferee Angela Beard in Australia.
Coach Staj told his players to join pro clubs to help them get ready for the Women's World Cup and it looks like he is helping those who can't find positions in Europe and want to turn pro by recommending them to clubs in Australia.
So far they have announced Anicka Castañeda at Mount Druitt Town Rangers and Malea Cesar at Blacktown City FC.
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 14, 2023 15:30:22 GMT 8
There were 7 Philippine national team players on site when A League leaders Western United (Sawicki and Beard who both played in the 2nd half) faced Western Sydney Wanderers (Bolden)today. Sarina scored a goal helping her team WSW deal the first loss of the season to Western United. 4 other Filipinas(Castaneda, Frilles, Cesar and Madarang) who have recently signed or about to sign contracts with Australian clubs were in the stands.
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 28, 2023 15:01:30 GMT 8
In a surprising development PFF Sec Gen Gastanes just announced that women's coach Alen Stajcic has taken over coaching the U17 girl's team and women's assistant coach Nahuel Arrarte is taking on the U20 WNT in addition to their PWNT duties. Both coaches must have liked the level of talent they saw during the tryouts in California (which I heard was pretty high) in order to accept those jobs in addition to the PWNT.
Coach Allen Stajcic in particular has a very good reputation developing young players for the Australian girl's teams in the past before becoming the Australian head women's coach so this should benefit the Philippines too. He also has an easier job getting past the first round of the AFC qualifiers as the top seed and strongest team in their group.
Coach Arrarte has the tougher job though getting past the first round of the AFC qualifiers in March. Because the Philippines did not participate in the previous edition of the AFC U20 qualifers they were unranked and were grouped with a traditionally strong team (China) in the first round this time around. Since only one team from the group gets to advance, the Philippine U20 team will have no choice but to win against China in their very first game in the group to advance to the 2nd round of the U20 AFC qualifiers.
Both coaches will next head to the Philippines to administer the tryouts for U20 and U17 players there as well next week.
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 28, 2023 15:02:23 GMT 8
To further push for a streamlined program from the youth to the senior national team, Stajcic and Arrarte will be able to introduce their coaching style early on for Philippine women's football's next stars.
"It's very exciting, I think it's an opportunity to align the senior national team along with young players coming through and it's a similar process as we did with the senior team in regards to looking for the best Filipinas players possible," said Arrarte.
“We are not a flash in the pan. We are not a qualify-to-the-World Cup-once, and we are happy with that. Hopefully, this team will be able to qualify in the World Cup and the Olympic Games for the next five to 10 years,” Coach Alen Stajcic
"I love the fact of going to a park tomorrow morning, for example, and seeing 10 or 20 or 30 kids and seeing something new and different and exciting and seeing what freshness can come to a football pitch because you never know what you're going to get. You know, I love the opportunity of working with new players," said Stajcic.
"And in this case, it's not really a job I wanna do for myself, it's not really a job I need to do or have to do for myself as when you're a little bit younger, it's a job where you know, I'm hopefully gonna provide something for the players but more importantly the staff(Filipino assistants) around for them to be able to carry the torch," he added.
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 28, 2023 15:03:54 GMT 8
Playing for the Philippine women's teams is really becoming really popular among our diaspora. Apparently players from all over the world including as far away as Australia, Canada and Hongkong as well as all over the US(New York, Chicago, Texas, etc) flew to California at their own(or at least their family's expense) just to attend the U17 and U20 national team tryouts.
And from what I have read from social media there would have been even more participants except they didn't register in time or didn't hear about the tryouts until it was too late.
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 29, 2023 13:16:34 GMT 8
"The players know, and I've said it many times. I don't wanna sound like a broken record, but they're renting those shirts," Stajcic said during a media conference at Acacia Hotel on Wednesday.
"If you're in the team, you're renting that shirt, and I'm open and honest and transparent. You can probably tell, but I'm like that with the team. And it doesn't matter who you are, everyone who's there at a training session is there to take your jersey," he added.
According to Stajcic, the uncertainty on whether or not they get called up for the next tournament keeps his wards alert and always eager to get the upperhand over their teammates. "That just drives internal competition, and that's really the next step in the evolution of this team, in terms of driving each other to become even better, to have that hunger to try and keep your shirt," he said.
And even with the tough rivalry among the players, the head tactician maintains that the rapport of the team is good and even welcomes the friendly competition.
"It's national team football, and it should be a little bit cutthroat, but in a good way," said Stajcic.
"A big part about our team is the culture of the team, and the dynamics within the team are so healthy and positive. The rivalry is so healthy, and that's how it should be, and that's one of the keys to our success, for sure."
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Post by cjeagle on Feb 6, 2023 2:38:30 GMT 8
After the World Cup qualification, the Filipinas also won their first medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in May, and then clinched the AFF Women's Championship for the first time in program history in July. Stajcic knew how big 2022 was, but also looked to maintain the growth — even if it's not at the same blistering pace. With the challenge of the World Cup looming, the tactician preaches perseverance among his ranks that it may not be as successful as it was last year, but it doesn't matter. "Sometimes in life and in sport, it's a bit of a rocky road, and it's two steps forward, one step back. And you know, you have to have a lot of resilience. But last year was just a really steep climb for this group," said Stajcic. "I'm hoping that we have another steep climb, but we also gotta be resilient and respectful of how hard it is to keep climbing. It was an unbelievable year, a miraculous year, a historic year. Everything, all the adjectives that we've used to describe that year. But I just know... the more you keep climbing, the harder it is to keep climbing. So we have to work even harder than what we did last year. We need to put even more effort in -- tactically, technically, physically, mentally — to be able to keep climbing the mountains and the hills that lay ahead." Rising expectations Stajcic's subordinate Nahuel Arrarte also shared his own thoughts as assistant coach. Alongside Stajcic, he was able to see just how the players were able to develop. "Obviously, 12 months have gone past and the team has grown. I think we as individuals have grown as well. The team itself, you've seen where we're going — playing in different continents, and now there's an expectation. We talk about that all the time, whereas previously, we were just sort of happy to participate," said Arrarte. "But now, we're going into tournaments with expectations to do well, like in the SEA Games. Now we're going to the Pinatar Cup, and it's not just going there for the sake of competing anymore. So, that's what I think I'm really, really looking forward to this year, is that we're going to tournaments expecting, looking to see how far we can push ourselves, and I think that's something, full credit to the girls," he continued. Arrarte said that what the Filipinas have been doing for the past year not only fuels their own confidence, but also makes everybody else see just what they can do. From fans to stakeholders in the country, more have gone to subscribe to the success of the team. Now looking forward to the World Cup and beyond, Arrarte sees last year as a great starting point. "They've actually started to believe in themselves, and on top of that, make us believe in them even more, and obviously collectively, create belief within the country, the nation. Which, I think is something that maybe haven't been felt before in the Philippines, compared to what's happening in the last 12 months," said Arrarte. "So yeah, obviously a massive opportunity. Like Coach Alen said, we've got to keep climbing up that mountain, and it gets harder and harder. But now I think we've created a decent foundation." Stajcic and Arrarte recently announced that they will be overseeing the youth teams, coaching the U-17 and U-20 teams, respectively, as they attempt to maintain the program that netted the Philippines a spot in the World Cup. But before anything else, Stajcic and Arrarte will steer the Filipinas in the upcoming 2023 Pinatar Cup in Spain where they face European teams Wales, Iceland, and Scotland in what they consider a warm-up event for the World Cup. www.philstar.com/sports/2023/02/01/2241817/reflecting-filipinas-world-cup-qualification-year-after
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Post by cjeagle on Feb 10, 2023 12:08:13 GMT 8
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Post by cjeagle on Feb 10, 2023 12:54:41 GMT 8
Frangos, for his part, reiterated the brand's commitment in helping the Filipinas even beyond the World Cup.
"adidas is honored to be partnered with the women's program of the Philippines Football Federation. This partnership will see adidas supporting the women's national team, but also, the youth teams and the youth programs that the PFF is looking to develop. So it's a real partnership to develop football and provide a pathway for females to play football," he said.
"So this partnership, as I mentioned, extends beyond the World Cup. We're looking to provide ongoing support and inspire the next generation of Philippine athletes. Our goal together with the PFF is to lead the conversation of women in sport and build awareness on what this group of inspirational women has achieved today and will achieve in the future," he added.
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