DESPITE the absence of ace player Katrina Guillou due to club commitments, local football officials and Spanish head coach Rafa Rodriguez believe the Filipina5 are better prepared when they plunge into action in the AFC Women’s Asian Futsal Cup starting May 6 in Hohhot, China.
“We’ve had a long and full camp since we returned from the qualifiers in Uzbekistan in January so I believe the team is better prepared, with more synergy and the addition of more players. Overall, we have a better team,” said Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez yesterday during the team’s sendoff at the Studio 300 Bowling Center in Mandaluyong.
“I believe that this is the best team we have prepared and we are able to take on anyone,” echoed coach Rafa Rodriguez of the 14 players who will debut in the continental showcase for women’s futsal at the chilly provincial capital of Inner Mongolia.
Gutierrez disclosed that Guillou, who played a major role in the Nationals qualifying in Group C of the qualifiers last January in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, could not be released from her American club DC Power and would not be available for the Asian meet.
“But Katrina maintains that she remains ready and available for both the national women’s football team and the Filipina5 once their main competitions are underway,” the PFF honcho assured.
“We have players who are able and willing to take Katrina’s place.”
Named to the PH side were mainstays Isabella Flanigan, Judy Connolly, Dionesa Tolentin, Samantha Hughes, Alisha del Campo, Regine Rebosura, Cathrine Graversen, Kayla Maureen Santiago, Rocelle Maria Mendano, Vrendrelle Nuestra plus newcomers Hazel Lustan, Charisa Marie Lemoran, Isabella Bandoja and Lanie Ortillo.
The Filipinas are bracketed in tough Group B together with defending champion Iran, reigning Southeast Asian women’s futsal title holder Vietnam and Hong Kong.
Gutierrez said, “We intend to give these top teams a run for their money, always playing to win just like we did in the qualifiers in Uzbekistan when nobody thought we would get far and qualify for next week’s Asian Cup.”
Rodriguez said that his charges will have two tune-up games before the actual tournament against host China and Australia, which narrowly beat the Philippines 2-1 when the two sides tangled in the qualifying tourney in Uzbekistan.
The Filipina5 open their campaign on May 7 against the defending Iranian champions, face the Vietnamese two days later, before capping their group campaign against the Hong Kong booters on May 11 in matches to be held at the Hohhot Sports Center.
