Despite making just one appearance for the Philippine Women’s National Football Team in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, it is safe to say goalkeeper Kiara Fontanilla left a positive first impression. It is one thing to compete on the continental stage, it is completely another that her debut came against one of the biggest teams in the world.
“Getting my first cap against Australia was definitely a game-changer and a career highlight of mine because it was such a big team. I’ve watched this team for years. I’ve watched Sam Kerr; I studied her. So the fact that I was able to play against her is amazing,” said the 21-year-old stopper.
“The fact that I was able — not even I — we were able to hold them for nil-nil into half, we showed that ‘Hey, we can really hang with all these teams.’ We might be a small country compared to everyone else, but, ‘Hey, we have Pinoy Pride.’”
As a newcomer to the program, Fontanilla would have been forgiven for having jitters on the job. The fact that it came so sudden and it happened against a nation that has tasted competition in the World Cup and Olympics makes her performance all the more impressive as she contributed heavily to keeping a clean sheet until the gates were breached at the 50th minute.
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“So, we had a goalkeeper meeting with Olivia (McDaniel), Inna (Palacios), and I, and then our (goalkeeping) coach Ludo (Antunes) and coach Alen (Stajcic). So coach Alen was kind of just standing in front of us and was like ‘So Inna, if you are 100 percent by tomorrow, you’ll play, but if not (he turns to me), you’ll play’,” said the Norco High School alumna.
“I remember during that time, Inna just injured her ankle the day before — or the day he told us, I looked at Inna and I was like because we’ve gotten close throughout this campaign, ‘I know you want to play. I want to play, too. But this is your moment; this is you. But then, unfortunately, she couldn’t play; so I knew I have to step up to the task,” she continued.
“At first, I was nervous because I was like ‘Oh my God, it’s Australia’ and it was my first cap. But I kind of took a step back and was like ‘OK, I know it’s Australia. Yes, this is my first cap. But this is like any other game.’ And had to take it to mind. I don’t want to be nervous for the team because they are counting on me to stay calm, to keep everyone calm; and that was honestly my main goal during the entire game. Just to keep their heads high, keep that positive mindset. And I think that really worked in our favor.”
Thanks to her fantastic performance against the Aussies, so many people have reached out to Fontanilla. Among those who did were her relatives in the Philippines as well as individuals who wish to help her kickstart a professional career.
“There were a lot of messages from fans everywhere, and I have my family who reached out for me — which was great. I don’t know if it was caught on camera, but right after the game, I couldn’t stand because of like adrenaline dump,” said the Fullerton, California, native.
“I started crying on the field because I was really happy. The fact that I was able to do this on such a big stage is great. So, I got a lot of direct messages from people all around the world. I got a few messages from agents that want to represent me. So that was cool; so my next step is that I’m going to pursue a professional career — I don’t know where yet. I wish there was a high-level professional league here in the Philippines.
“I would love to be here because I’ll be closer to my family who I have barely met. For that, it was just very shocking and very exciting to see everyone have been supporting me back home here. I wanted to go to Baguio, but unfortunately one of my uncles got COVID, so I can’t do that anymore. But like how I’ve been telling my family, my dad, it’s a sign that I can’t go there without him, because ‘you’re supposed to be coming home with me.’ And that’s what the next thing is in July,” she expresed.
Competing for the PWNFT gave a chance to Fontanilla and some of her teammates who were born and raised overseas to reconnect with their roots. The journey was especially exceptional for the Eastern Oregon University student since she was able to come home to the country where her dad and grandparents came from.
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“He’s originally from Baguio City. So he’s always been a mountain boy. He moved to the States when he was seven, by himself, and then he hasn’t been back since. There were times when we wanted to bring him back, but it’s just that with his work and with our schedule — my soccer schedule — there’s barely any time for that,” she said.
“So the fact that I am finally now here, I think now it kind of pushes him more to be like, ‘Okay, I’m going to come home.’ And everyone’s waiting at home for him and it’s cool the fact that they’re like ‘Oh, when are you coming back?’ It’s not like ‘When are you going come here,’ but it’s like ‘When are you coming home?’ That pushed me more to bring him.”
Fontanilla’s first tour of duty with the PWNFT has led her to seek a professional career. She is currently taking up a degree in Health and Human Performance and a minor in Psychology but is willing to skip them to fulfill her ambitions in the sport.
For now, though, she is enjoying the moment.
“On top of that, getting into the World Cup was even better because now I get to live that dream that a lot of other girls that have played the sport have,” she said. “I even have a bunch of my teammates and a bunch of other girls around the world, DM-ing me like, ‘I can’t believe you’ve made it to the World Cup.’
“It was a little bit of a shock; I never thought I was going to be here. And the fact that I am here now is amazing.”
