Filipina5 out to make history at home in FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup

November 21 ------ THE Philippines is back on the world stage of football – albeit on a smaller playing area – with the country not only hosting, but playing in the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup. The competition will run from November 21 to December 7 at the Philsports Arena with 12 teams battling to become the first World Cup champion in futsal, a five-a-side variation played on a much faster pace indoors. It was just three years ago when the Philippines made history in the sport when the Filipinas saw action in the 2022 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and won against the host country.

Now, the Filipina5 will look to claim their own first, as they face Poland on Friday, 8:30 p.m. Three Filipinas players from that historic Women’s World Cup campaign are also on the Filipina5 in Katrina Guillou, Jaclyn Sawicki, and Bella Flanigan, determined to show a performance that the home fans can be proud of. But Guillou stressed that despite the World Cup experience in football, futsal is a completely different animal. “I think dealing with the pressures from that World Cup, that’s something that can be brought and shared with the team,” she said. “But it is a completely different sport, so that’s something we all need to keep in mind. “But I know the team and I have been working pretty hard and we're pretty excited for the first match.”

World No. 63 Philippines, coached by Spanish coach Rafa Merino, is considered as underdog in Group A where they will face Argentina, Poland, and Morocco, ranked sixth, 14th, and 31st, respectively, in the latest world rankings. In preparation for the Futsal Women’s World Cup, the Filipina5 held training camps in Japan and Spain for the final build-up, even facing their national team that was also bound for Manila. “Magagaling ang team sa Europe camp from Spain, so ang laking improvement (sa team),” said assistant coach Aris Bocalan. “From there, kailangan namin mag-recharge ulit.”

The coaching staff also had a difficult time in the selection process of the final 14. “’Yan ‘yung struggle actually ng coaching staff, kung paano talaga pipiliin. Kasi nagsimula tayo sa pool na marami coming from different teams, clubs sa Pilipinas kasi talagang in-open natin. Binuksan natin sa provincial areas, hindi lang dito sa Manila. We also invited ‘yung mga Filipino na based outside," added Bocalan. "Ang pinaka-main focus ni coach Rafa, kung sino talaga ‘yung nag-perform hanggang sa dulo. So sa Spain pa lang and even the Japan camp namin, in-open namin. Wala pang final until three days ago.”

But despite the preparation, Bocalan acknowledges that the Filipina5 will have their hands full against the top teams in the world. “Alam naman natin na ibang level na pagdating sa mga European teams,” said Bocalan. “Not only Poland, even ‘yung mga kalaro natin sa susunod, Morocco and Argentina. So lahat ‘yun nakasama doon sa preparation natin.”

Aside from the three former members of the Women’s World Cup national team, also in the lineup are skipper Inday Tolentin, Samantha Hughes, Lanie Ortillo, Cathrine Graversen, Kayla Santiago, Regine Rebosora, Alisha Del Campo, Judy Connolly, Isabella Bandoja, Charisa Lemoran, and Rocelle Mendano. Guillou hopes that the Filipina5 in the Futsal World Cup will enjoy the same success as the Filipinas in the World Cup - if not even more. “That was something special,” said Guillou of the Women’s World Cup. “I know with each game we are going in with the mindset that we are capable of winning. And it just comes down to the day and how the team performs.”

Source: spin.ph