The Philippines were gifted with a lucky draw for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers set to be held later this year, that could potentially see the team through the final stage for the first time ever.
However, there is the tricky matter of the tournament taking place during the UAAP Football season.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has sourced the best and fittest players in the country from the collegiate teams, their only option in the absence of a recurring annual women’s league that only got its start late last year and is yet to complete its first season.
Back in 2013, the PFF reached out to collegiate players based in North America, but even that is a complicated option now because they are also in the middle of their academic calendar.
Thus, the fate of the women’s national team, and its chances at making history, rests on the availability of the UAAP players. Non-collegiate players — especially those participating in the PFF Women’s League — may be tapped, but the more conditioned varsity players are valuable assets that cannot be overlooked.
Coaches of the UAAP teams were approached to comment on the matter during the last set of games of the PFF Women’s League on the eve of the UAAP football season. Fortunately, their responses were quite positive.
“I’ll say it again until the day I die. I support national cause. Flag and country,” De La Salle University’s Hans-Peter Smit affirmed.
“We’re always open. Last year we sent two or three of our players sa [AFF] competition. So the national team is always a priority,” reminded Anto Gonzales, the mentor of reigning UAAP champions University of the Philippines, who released Cristina De Los Reyes, Molly Manalansan, and Christille Ardiente for the national team training camp last summer.
“Yeah, of course. Kung may makukuha sa Ateneo, of course I’m willing ipa-join yung players ko,” stated Jaypee Merida of the Ateneo de Manila University.
“Ako I am very much willing to help the Philippine Football Federation, kasi ito naman talaga yung parang program para sa national team, yung UAAP. Wala naman tayong ibang source ng players,” said University of Santo Tomas’ Aging Rubio.
For Far Eastern University’s Let Dimzon, who has coached a number of youth national teams, it was not even a question. “Yes, FEU will help,” she asserted.
Dimzon also revealed that the qualifiers are already being discussed in board meetings among the UAAP coaches and officials to address the conflict in schedule that affects the availability of the student-athletes.
“If ever na makagawa sila ng all schools involved sa UAAP, ang possibility is magkaroon ng adjustment with the schedule. So kung sinong mga players na i-invite sa national team, they will allow to join the team,” Dimzon said.
The AFC qualifiers are set to take place between April 3 to 12. UAAP Season 79 should be at the latter part of the second round by that time, and is initially scheduled to have games on the first week of April before the Holy Week break.
“Actually dalawang games lang ma-[a]-affect. If ever na ma-move nga siya, ang possibility is mag-follow pa rin ng schedule tapos mag-a-add lang ng weekdays para sumabay pa rin kami sa Finals ng Men’s,” Dimzon added, disclosing the possibility of the women’s teams having weekday games compared to the Saturday only games they have scheduled for the first round.
The schedule is the only real complaint of UST’s Rubio, mindful that the affected UAAP games will be critical.
” Let’s say for example, tutulong ako sa national team kaya lang hindi din natin maalis sa isip na baka may mangyari sa game na yun. Eh pag after ng game na yun is papasok palang yung second round ng UAAP. Ang pinaka-importante kasi sa school namin is UAAP eh. Matalo na kami sa lahat ng preseason tournaments or other tournaments pero kailangan naming mag-deliver sa UAAP,” Rubio explained.
“Pero pag nakita ko na ready yung player ko, na kahit—ang injury naman kasi pwedeng mangyari anytime, anywhere whether maglaro ka, nasa field ka or wala. Yung worry ko kahit meron silang matulong pero physically pagdating kasi sa international competition, malaki talaga yung difference ng katawan atsaka of course kung pano maglaro. Physical talaga kung physical pagdating sa international. Pero kapag nakita ko yun sa player ko, possible na ire-release ko siya. Kasi yung nakikita ko na ina-eye nila, masyado pang bata,” Rubio added, clarifying her misgivings about the qualifiers.
On the other hand, UP’s Gonzales thinks it’s not an issue.
“I don’t think there should be any concern, the important thing is the girls get exposure,” Gonzales pointed out. He also thinks that preparation should start as soon as possible.
“The sooner they can build the team, the better for the team. Regardless of whatever. I hope they really do their best in being able to give the girls a fighting chance. So preparation is number one. Nonetheless, whatever limitations the PFF has, the girls should still be able to enjoy the experience and gain experience from the competition. So, not really a concern.”
La Salle’s Smit thinks preparation is just as vital and that it will prove to be the decisive factor in considering the team’s chances at progressing to the final round.
“The thing is scheduling, how? Training and all that. Right now, this close to less than two months? There’s no pool, there’s no lineup, there’s no call, there’s nothing. You know everybody’s talking about ‘Oh, this is our chance! Weak group!’ That is the number one fault of the Filipino. Just because you see the teams? What do you think the teams are just going to lay down and play? Eh ang problema, I don’t think it’s kampante, it’s incompetence. There’s a big difference,” Smit argued, hoping the PFF makes the necessary moves soon.
“While the other countries have already started with their respective teams a few months ago, they should start ASAP! Or [we] lose the chance to make football history,” he warned.
Initial preparation is already underway, as FEU’s Dimzon has also made known. Scouting has already begun with some recent PFFWL games getting curious visits from the entire staff of PFF coaches in the women’s program including technical director Marlon Maro, and Dimzon herself, who recently coached the U-16 women’s national team, observing in the stadium VIP box with them.
“Kaya nandito rin sila Coach Joyce and Coach Buda at Coach Maro earlier to scout some players from UAAP,” Dimzon said after the last PFFWL fixture on January 29, also alluding to Joyce Landagan, who recently had a productive stint coaching the U-14 girls team, and Buda Bautista, who last coached the senior women’s national team.
Despite the UAAP coaches voicing their concerns surrounding the team’s preparation, Dimzon thinks there is something positive about the current situation.
“Ang maganda lang dito is nasa season tayo, dahil nasa women’s league tayo. So if ever some players we’ll be getting are from the league, yun yung magiging advantage. Then after nito UAAP na agad, so fit din,” she noted, before revealing what could happen in the weeks ahead.
“Dahil hindi naman lahat ng teams is same schedule with their training, ayun lang magiging problema. Depende pa kung sino mache-check. So kasi ngayon kumukuha na kami ng players na possible macheck. Then ‘tsaka palang namin paguusapan. Siguro magse-set ng one or two days na training per week. Kailangan dun is ipaalam pa sa schools na bigyan sila ng two days for the national team.”
As of today, the PFF has already released the calendar of international women’s tournaments that the Philippines will participate in, with a note saying that tryouts will be announced very soon.
