Set to kick off their Southeast Asian Games campaign in four days’ time, the Philippines is hoping to close out a busy year with a good showing in the women’s football event.
In April, the Philippines narrowly missed out on advancing to the next round of Olympic qualifiers and then Last August, they made the semifinals of the AFF Women’s Championship for the very first time.
Their opponents for the SEA Games are teams they have already faced in the AFF tournament. And so the Pinays feel bolder about reaching the last four again and hopefully bagging a medal at home, something head coach Let Dimzon feels strongly about.
“We already have insight into the strength and weaknesses of these teams. With a collective effort and following one direction, we can achieve it,” she said.
To reinforce this objective, the team flew to Japan for an intensive two-week training camp that included tuneup matches against high-level local women’s club teams such as top-flight club Iga FC Kunoichi.
“Almost same level ‘yung [Japanese] club teams with the three strong teams in Southeast Asia. and the system of play is also almost the same,” said Dimzon, who noted that the trip was a great experience for the squad.
The Filipinas will open their SEA Games campaign against Myanmar on Tuesday, November 26; then finish the group stage versus Malaysia on Friday, November 29, with both matches slated at 8:00 p.m. at the Biñan Football Stadium. The Philippines has previously beaten Malaysia 3-0, but lost to Myanmar 0-3.
Should the Philippines advance, the semifinals will take place on Thursday, December 5. Both matches will happen simultaneously at 8:00 p.m. in Biñan and the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The medal games will take place three days later at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
A former national herself, Dimzon relishes the chance to play at home. She also hopes the team can rise to the occasion.
“Siyempre playing on your own pitch in your home country, the pride is there. We’ve improved a lot since the last SEA Game,s at mas maganda na ‘yung exposure sa players,” the tactician shared before including herself among those who have grown.
In the previous edition of the regional meet hosted by Malaysia, the Philippines failed to reach the podium after finishing fourth.
“That was my first time handling the senior team so hindi pa ganun ka-hinog. Process talaga. Since then, there has been a lot of improvement also for me as coach,” Dimzon said.
More determined than ever, the mastermind to the recent success of the PWNFT declared that the glory of a medal will not be the only thing they will be playing for.
“Gusto namin na makilala [ang football], not only the other sports. If we are able to do well, I think there’s a lot of possibility na mag-boom pa yung football sa atin. Not only for the men’s but also for the women’s so maybe it will open even more programs and opportunities for the players.”
She continued, “It will improve more, not only the women’s league, but also other tournaments where sponsors can come in. So I think ito ‘yung magandang chance for us.”
