ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship, isasagawa sa bansa sa Nobyembre 16

Nakatakdang isagawa sa bansa ang ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship na gaganapin mula Nobyembre 16 hanggang 21 sa PhilSports Arena sa Pasig City.

Ang torneo na ito ay magsisilbing kickoff na rin ng isang taong build-up ng limang Pinay football players para sa kanilang stint sa pinakadakilang yugto — ang inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s Cup sa Nobyembre sa susunod na taon kung saan ang Pilipinas din ang host country nito.

Umaasa si Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez, na ang pagho-host ng torneo na ito sa bansa at ang 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup ay magiging inspirasyon ng mga kabataang Pilipino na kunin ang sport.

“It’s very heartwarming to know our national team competes in the most prestigious events. Young boys and girls can get into the sport because just like their senior counterparts, we can make it.  We have the talent for it. We are built for it,”  sabi ni Gutierrez. 

Binigyang-diin naman ni Filipinas national coach Vic Hermans na hindi sila natatakot na makaharap ang pinakamalalakas at pinakamahuhusay na futsal teams sa ASEAN. Ito ay dahil na rin sa lubos silang naghanda para sa nasabing torneo.

“They will have to watch out for everybody. They must look at commitment and spirit.  We are not afraid. We have a good team. I just want that at the end, we shoot the ball into the net. Last Friday was the last time I trained with the team all together. We have seven to eight days to work on the details but that is my job,” ani Hermans.

Bukod sa pagho-host ng prestihiyosong kompetisyon, nakahanda rin ang pambansang koponan at kumpiyansa ang mga ito  laban sa kanilang mga  karibal sa Asean region.

“The national team is preparing well and we’re 100 percent confident. We want to dominate and win this tournament. I’m excited because this is the first time I will be competing in this kind of tournament,” ani player Isabella Bandoja. 

Ang pang-59 ranked na Filipinas ay haharap sa mga matitinding koponan na world number 6 na Thailand, number 11 na Vietnam, number 24 na Indonesia at number 37 na Myanmar.

“Against tough teams, we’ll do our best to give a good result for the Philippines,” dagdag pa ni Bandoja.

Samantala, kasama sa squad ng women’s football team ang ace striker na si Ms. Bandoja, ang Filipinas mainstay na si Alisha del Campo, Cathrine Graversen, Mykaella Abeto, Samantha Hughes, Kayla Santiago, Vrendelle Nuera, Princess Cristobas, Lanie Ortillo, Claire Lubetania, Agot Danton, Jada Bicierro, Althea Rebosura, Hazelro Lustan, Louraine Evangelista at Angelica Teves.