After 426 days, Chandler McDaniel finally returned to the field for the Philippine Women’s National Football Team.
The 25-year-old forward, who suffered an ACL injury in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup semifinal against South Korea on February 3, 2022, came on as a substitute for Sarina Bolden in the 60th minute against Pakistan in yesterday’s Olympic qualifier.
McDaniel then capped off her return with a goal in the 85th minute to secure a resounding 4-0 victory for the Filipinas at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.
“I was super excited to be back on the field. Maybe I got too eager (when I entered the field), but I’m just so happy to get my goal and just happy to be back on the team,” said the product of University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
“I couldn’t remember the last time I was this happy.”
Recovering from the dreaded ACL injury requires a lot of time, effort, and patience. During the time McDaniel was sidelined, she had to miss out on her teammates sealing a bronze medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games and winning the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship on home soil.
However, everything happens for a reason. She refuses to dwell on what might have been and seeks to focus on what lies ahead. Comeback stories are always good to witness, and she is making her own.
Photo from AFC
“When I was invited back to camp, I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I was so excited to be with the team again,” said the 5-foot-7 forward.
“I feel like a lot is building into this moment, and since I’m finally here with the team, it’s such a relief that all the hard work that I’ve done has led me to this moment. I couldn’t be happier to be back.”
With the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the horizon, McDaniel knows that she has to make up for lost time to secure a spot on the Filipinas’ final team for the tournament.
Returning and then scoring against Pakistan will boost her case, but there will still be more battles ahead. Despite that, she is raring to go and eager to remind everyone what she can do.
“I’ve been away from the team for 14 months. It’s definitely a long journey, but I definitely think the journey has made me a stronger player, physically and mentally,” she said.
What does not kill you makes you stronger, and McDaniel is out to prove herself once again.
