Angie Beard wants to make her mother and her Cebuano lineage proud if she gets the chance to represent the country as part of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team’s final squad in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The 25-year-old defender is currently in Sydney with her teammates as they gear up to compete against Switzerland, New Zealand, and Norway in Group A across three different stadiums in New Zealand. Aside from preparing for the big dance, she is also reconnecting with her roots.
“My mom is obviously from the Philippines. She’s from Cebu City. I have a lot of family there still. My mom is a child of eight or nine (siblings), so there’s a big family there that supports me. We have a strong connection over there,” said the former Brisbane Roar star.
“I visited the Philippines a couple of times over the past six months. It’s a very charming place. I think it was a very exciting experience to be able to travel there and really connect myself with the culture and the country.”
While Beard is yet to make her debut for the Philippines, she already has experience competing at the senior international level. She previously wore the colors of Australia against the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, and the United States.
She was allowed to switch to the Philippines because all three matches were merely international friendlies and not part of a major tournament. A key individual in her decision to be a Filipina is the team’s current coach, Alen Stajcic.
“I’ve known Staj for a little while now. I think we met when I was 16, 17, 18 — something like that, pretty young. He’s a great coach. He left a great impression on me and was a big factor in why I came over here to the Philippines,” she said.
“This is only my second camp, and I feel like I’ve made a lot of strong friendships and good connections. The girls are not only talented footballers but also very welcoming and friendly,” reflected the current Western United standout.
“The fan group, the community, and the Philippines have really accepted me and supported me in a way that makes me feel valued and respected as a player. I’m really excited to be here and explore more of the Philippines and, I guess, more of my footballing self as well.”
Whatever happens in the next few weeks, Beard will seek to return to the Philippines to further immerse herself in her lineage from her mother’s side. This wish of hers goes beyond football.
She is going the extra mile for the people she loves and the ones she will try to reconnect with.
“I’m really hoping one day in the future to go back with my whole family and bring my mom back there, as well as my brother, my dad, and just really connect there and see everyone that I haven’t seen in a long time,” she said.
“It’s a big part of me over there. I’m really happy to be here representing all of them and the rest of the Philippines as well.”
