The Philippine U-20 Women’s National Football Team will have senior-level experience when it competes to qualify for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup next week in Laos.
The likes of forward Isabella Flanigan, defender Chantelle Maniti, and goalkeeper Kaiya Jota have been called up to lead the team as it goes up against the likes of China, Hong Kong, and host nation Laos at the National Stadium KM16 in Vientiane.
“Looking forward to the challenge ahead,” tweeted the team’s head coach Nahuel Arrarte, who serves as an assistant to Alan Stajcic in the senior team.
Aside from Jota, Jessa May Lehayan and Alexis Louise Tan will compete to be the starting goalie. In front of them, Julia Gabrielle Benitez, Robyn Eara Dizon, Journey Hawkins, Ariana Isabella Markey, Rae Mikella Tolentino, and Kylie Anne Yap will seek to seal spots in the backline.
Over to the midfield, Sabrina Isabel Go, Jade Anne Jalique, Tamara Elly Lisser, Jonalyn Lucban, Natalie Rae Oca, Isabella Pasion, and Sabine Alexi Ramos shall try to control the game from the middle of the park.
Lastly, Jodi Marie Banzon, Jada Louise Bicierro, Elaine Pimentel, Ariana Salvador, and Chayse Camryn Ying seek to score goals as the team’s forwards.
Assisting Arrarte will be Stevan Antonic, Prescila Rubio, and Marlon Pinero. David Plowright and Anthony Albao will be the goalkeeping coaches while Red Sajonia and Fille Claudine Cainglet will serve as S&C coach and team doctor respectively.
Hannah Calitis (physiotherapist), Mark Perez (kitman), Wally Javier (equipment manager), and Karyn Caliway (coordinator) comprise the other staff members. Jeff Cheng is the team manager and Kevin Padre is the assistant team manager.
The team will take on China this Wednesday at 5:00 PM Manila time, Laos this Friday at 8:30 PM Manila time, and Hong Kong next Sunday at 8:30 PM Manila time. Only the top team in Group A will move to the next round.
