Nierras to stage 2nd WNT Training Camp statesidePhilippine Women’s National Team head coach Ernie Nierras will look to discover more Maldita prospects when he returns to the States to hold a spring training camp from March 25 to April 1 at the El Cerrito Sport Complex in Corona, California.
Nierras, along with coaches Clint McDaniel and Trey Scharlin, will look at around 60 girls who will be vying to make the player pools for the Senior Women’s, U19 and U16 levels.
“The camp last November (2012) was a success. Not only did we win the LA Viking Cup, but most importantly, we created a pool of 50+ players for the WNT, U19 and U16,” said Nierras.
The coach also added, “We have proven that by working with people in the US who would like to help football, we can field a team that can change the landscape of Women's football in the Philippines.”
School vs. CountryOne of the reasons that coach Nierras decided to look abroad for players was because of the difficulty in asking the universities in the Philippines to release his players in order to take part in WNT training.
“Since 2007, I've never been able to put together a team for which all the girls were available for training,” he lamented. “The support that I've been getting from some of the universities, schools and some coaches has been very bad.”
As an example, he cited the AFF in 2012 when some players were released only a week before the competition.
“How can we be competitive?” he asks. “How can the players improve their technical skills and tactical understanding of the game? That is why I was forced to find more players by holding a camp in the US.”
Nierras added, “When I hold tryouts in the Philippines, I practically have to beg coaches to release players. Some of the players’ attitudes are not good either. Even when coaches release them, they still miss training. NO MORE!”
Nierras was also quick to credit the Philippine Football Federation for its support in holding these camps in the United States.
“The PFF fully supports our endeavor to hold camps in the US. This is our 2nd camp in less than 6 months,” he said. “The PFF President’s commitment to women's football is our inspiration to make this whole thing happen. Even Atty. Ed Gastanes (General Secretary) tirelessly signed invitation letters for all our invitees.”
Goals for WNTNierras identified as his main goal the identification of 15 players who will compose the 23-player squad that will compete in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers. He also hopes to find more players for the training pool that will prepare for the AFF Women’s Championship 2013 and the SEAG also in 2013.
“I would like to work with the coaching staff and empower them to select players, by holding quarterly camps in Corona,” he explained. “This will centralize our camp in the US to make identification and selection of potential WNT, U19, and U16 players easier. An elite football program so to speak.
As a long-term goal, he hopes to register the Malditas as a club team with a home field in Corona, CA. “This will allow us to compete in CALSOUTH events as a club team,” Nierras continued. “In the future it will be cheaper for the PFF to send the best players in the Philippines to the US to train, instead of sending 15 players from the US to the Philippines. I don't think anyone will argue that by playing pro-clubs in the US, it will make the Malditas a stronger WNT.”
He plans to reach out to the Filipino community in the US to raise funds for this project. “I am sure a lot of Fil-ams will be more than happy to support an all Filipina team,” he said.
Problems FacedNierras realizes that there are many mountains to climb if the Philippines is to fulfill its dream of qualifying for the Women’s World Cup.
“Realistically we cannot do this without our foreign based players,” he said. “We do not have a local league to help develop our future players in the Philippines.”
He also knows that coaches in the Philippines not only need to change their mindset but also be exposed to better coaching and training methods. “Our local players have not improved for the past 5 years. Our provincial players are not improving either. People keep asking for programs, programs, and more programs; but once a program is in place they do not support it.”
He concludes by summing up the problem plaguing the women’s game in the country. “The biggest problem we have is not funding but participation. We lack participation in women's football because the members of the PFF do not have programs for women's football development.”
Players for the Training CampHere is a list of the players who will be at the Spring Training Camp:
1. Jenny Anderson-Hammond (Rancho Santa Margarita, California)
2. Regienne Apolinar (Irvine, California)
3. Chelsea Archer (Hayward, California/University of Washington)
4. Christina Archer (Hayward, California/University of Washington)
5. Danni Barton (Monrovia, California/Clifton Middle School)
6. Reina Bonta (Alameda, California)
7. Corrine Bowe (Rockaway, New Jersey/Morris Knolls High School)
8. Kristen Bowe (Rockaway, New Jersey/Morris Knolls High School)
9. Taylor Carpenter (Irvine, California/Northwood High School)
10. Aaren Casimiro (Temecula, California/University of California, Riverside)
11. Darien Casimiro (Temecula, California/Chaparral High School)
12. Amanda Castillo (Brisbane, California/St. Ignatius College Preparatory)
13. Megan Chlentzos (Tustin, California/Beckman High School)
14. Olivia Collado (Missouri City, Texas/St. Edward's University)
15. Sarah Cook (Las Vegas, Nevada/California State University, Bakersfield)
16. Jessika Cowart (Redwood City, California/Roy Cloud School)
17. Nikole Cruz (Kent, Washington/Kent-Meridian High School)
18. Krystal de Ramos (Los Alamitos, California/Los Alamitos High School)
19. Alexa Diaz (Burien, Washington/Seattle Pacific University)
20. Lauren Edwards (Lincoln, California/Lincoln High School)
21. Amanda Empleo (Long Beach, California/Woodrow Wilson Classical High School)
22. Kristen Enriquez (Camarillo, California/Las Colinas Middle School)
23. Alexis Evans (Corona, California/Citrus Hills Intermediate School)
24. Ashley Hauke (San Diego, California/San Diego State University)
25. Samantha Hiatt (Newcastle, Washington/Seattle Preparatory)
26. Amanda Hittelman (Irvine, California/Northwood High School)
27. Joana Houplin (Bellingham, Washington/Western Washington University)
28. Amanda Howard (San Diego, California/California State University, Fullerton)
29. Tiffany Jackson (Castaic, California/West Ranch High School)
30. Candy Janachowski (Mill Valley, California/St. Ignatius College Preparatory)
31. Megan Jurado (San Diego, California/San Diego State University)
32. Raquel Killy (Corona, California/Norco High School)
33. Leah Larot (Sacramento, California/California Storm)
34. Raylene Larot (Sacramento, California/Sacramento State University)
35. Monika Lee (Shelby Township, Michigan/Loyola University Chicago)
36. Brenna Leftwich (Phoenix, Arizona/Desert Vista High School)
37. Brooke Leftwich (Phoenix, Arizona/Desert Vista High School)
38. Cara LeVasseur (Irvine, California/Northwood High School)
39. Jessica Masanque (Temecula, California/Greater Oak High School)
40. Chandler McDaniel (Corona, California/Norco High School)
41. Ashley Mejilla (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/Central Michigan University)
42. Jessica Miclat (Ontario, California/St. Lucy's Priory High School)
43. Alyssa Montejo (Menifee, California)
44. Kara Montilla (Carson, California/St. Margaret Mary Catholic School)
45. Kelsey Moore (Scottsdale, Arizona)
46. Rachel Nichols (Fairfax Station, Virginia/Cornell University)
47. Adrian Nixt (Portland, Oregon/Westside Christian High School)
48. Dominique Oro (Monrovia, California/Citrus College)
49. Kaleya Romua (Irvine, California/Northwood High School)
50. Alena Salsberg (El Dorado Hills, California/Alabama State University)
51. Shelby Salvacion (San Jose, California/Sacramento State University)
52. Caitlin Sanchez (Upland, California/Pioneer Junior High School)
53. Maria Shipe (Chicago, Illinois)
54. Madison Smith (Lincoln, California/Lincoln High School)
55. Sunshine Soriano (Las Vegas, Nevada/Liberty High School)
56. Malia Tilton (Orange, California/El Modena High School)
57. Amanda Tuazon (Santa Clara, California/Presentation High School)
58. Allyssa Valente (Lakewood, California/Rosary High School)
59. Lashonne Wells (Seattle, Washington)
60. Danielle Wheeler (Santa Clara, California/Dartmouth Middle School)
61. Sharon Whelchel (Tustin, California)
62. Camille Wilson (Novato, California/Marin Catholic High School)
63. Asia Wisco (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada/Stanstead College)
AFC Women's Asian Cup QualifiersOnce the camp concludes, Nierras will return to the Philippines where he and his WNT Management group will have the tough task of selecting the final 23-player roster that will take part in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers on May 21 to 25 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The Philippines will be in Group B along with host Bangladesh, I.R. Iran, and Thailand.
The games are as follow:
May 21 – vs. I.R. Iran
May 23 – vs. Thailand
May 25 – vs. Bangladesh
All matches will be played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
If the Philippines top Group B, they and the other 3 group winners will join Australia, China, Japan, and South Korea in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournament slated for May 14 – 25, 2014.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournament will also serve as qualifications for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Canada.
Since FIFA increased the number of teams for the 2015 Women’s World Cup from 16 to 24 teams, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) were rewarded with 5 slots, which is 2 more than what used to be given.
The Malditas are sponsored by Giligan’s, Pythos Technology Philippines Inc., ARMM Gym, Max International, Vizari, and BGC.
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