They say that in football, chances and opportunities rarely come. And when they do, one must grab that opportunity or chance with both hands and never let go. Just like life itself.
Our Philippine Women’s National Football Team or Filipinas did just that on July 25 in Wellington against the co-hosts, the New Zealand Football Ferns. Sarina Bolden scored the first ever goal for the country in the World Cup. The same goal was enough to power the Filipinas in posting the biggest upset so far in the tournament against the highly-favored hosts.
But more importantly, that lone goal changed the fortunes of the team. Nobody really paid much attention prior to the biggest soccer event this year until that shocking win against New Zealand.
From being just debutants, the Filipinas are now in serious contention to go past the group stage. A win against Norway in their final group A fixture will seal the Philippines’ passage through the last 16.
Who would have thought that the qualifiers in Group A would be decided in the last two matches? Switzerland will face New Zealand and the Filipinas will take on the Norwegians on the 30th for tickets to the next round and group honors. And who would have thought, in a million years, that the Philippines is very much in the fight to extend their campaign in New Zealand and probably even extend their stay up to Australia?
As it stands, Switzerland is still leading the group with one win and one draw or 4 points. New Zealand is second with 3 points, tied with the Philippines, but ahead in goal difference. Norway is fourth with one point after two games.
All teams are still in contention to advance. All need to win their last games to do so. A draw against Norway may be enough for the Filipinas to advance but a win is a must to avoid complications.
While this is easier said and done, Norway is no pushover. The Gressshoppene or The Grasshoppers are former world, European and Olympic champions. They won the World Cup in 1995 after losing in the finals four years earlier. Coached by Hege Riise and led by team captain Maren Mjelde, Norway is currently ranked the 12th best team in the FIFA pecking order. The Filipinas, on the other hand, are 46th, their highest ever.
If we talked about the rankings, then the Filipinas simply have no business tangling against one of the favorites to win the tournament. But do not tell that to the Filipinas, do not mention this to Olivia “McSaver” McDaniel, to Sarina “Golden” Bolden, to Captain Hali Long, to Sara Eggesvik or to all the players fighting for the three stars and the sun. But, most especially, do not tell this to Head Coach Alen Stajcic simply because he wants nothing to distract him – not the odds, not the chances and not the favorites that are expected to march to the second week of the tournament.
Time and time again. Stajcic has proven to be the best coach for the team. He was able to bridge the gap that would taken decades to do so, as eloquently summed up by my “panganay” Cedelf Tupas in a recent interview in our radio show 3PTS-Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports over DZME 1530, in just 18 months.
To say that he made a team out of players coming from diverse backgrounds and cultures is an understatement. He made a world-class team, to say the least.
His defensive strategy against New Zealand is a masterclass. And against the heavily-favored Norway, with a seat in the knockout match at stake, we can expect Stajcic to come up with another brilliant strategy to win the game for the Philippines.
Simply put, in Stajcic we trust!
By the way, Eggesvik can also provide an insight on Norway. She is very familiar with how the Grasshoppers play. The Pinay footballer is midfielder for KIL/Hemme in 1. divisjon in the Norwegian league.
So how big was the Filipinas’ win over New Zealand the other day? It was enormous, so big that it practically ensured that women’s football will always be a major fixture in the country’s sports future.
The Designated Kit Man was able to join the watch party of the Philippines vs New Zealand recently organized by the Philippine Football Federation and Coca-Cola Philippines (sorry just can’t help it). And judging from the reaction of the crowd, especially the girls who came in, the sport is expected to be alive and well in the coming years. Aside from putting the world on notice, the Filipinas’ remarkable run in New Zealand is now inspiring millions of young Pinays to take up the sport and in the hope of someday representing the country in future World Cups.
One of these young women is Chrisia Espiritu, whom I met many years ago, playing soccer when she was just in her elementary days and told me that one of her goals is to play for the Malditas, the former moniker of the women’s national team. And after almost a decade or more, I met her during the watch party and it was so good to know that she never let go of the sport. She is now playing as defensive central midfielder, and even as a winger, for Ateneo De Manila University. Keep on dreaming and believing, Chrisia!
Speaking of the further impact of the Filipinas’ fine showing in the World Cup, Filipinos based in many parts of the globe are being united by their love for the country. Their rekindled pride of being Filipinos are just one of the many positive sides to the impressive run by the Philippines despite the odds and the enormity of what they need to accomplish. Even my brother-from-another-mother and fellow Bedan Joey Gabrillo based in Bakersfield, California, took the time to watch the match and even managed to give me a blow-by-blow account of the game against the Kiwis. Joey was also up and ranted his heart’s out on the controversial calls against the Filipinas in their opening match against Switzerland.
Asikasom ya lanang ditan, aro!
A peek at various social media platforms will show that many Filipinos based abroad share this support, rallying behind the team despite different time zones and circumstances.
Football can do this, you know. For the meantime…
Laban, Filipinas!
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at [email protected] or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat