WITH a sprinkling of Women’s World Cup veterans and despite their short training period, Australian coach Marc Torcaso is optimistic the Filipina5, the PH squad’s moniker, can be competitive and pull surprises in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup qualifying meet opening this Saturday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
“I have watched this team train for the past two weeks and I think they are going to be very competitive,” said Torcaso, who will serve as deputy to newly-appointed PH women’s futsal coach Rafa Merino of Spain, yesterday during the side’s send-off at the Studio 300 Bowling Center and Bar in Makati.
“They have the Filipino fight in them and when you have that, anything can happen,” said the Filipinas’ Australian tactician of the Nationals, who will kick off their campaign in Group C against Kuwait on Saturday at the Yusonobod Sports Complex in the Uzbek capital.
He said among those who will suit up for the Filipina5 are national women’s football team mainstays Katrina Guillou and Isabella Flanigan, who saw action in the Women’s World Cup Down Under in 2023 and have had extensive futsal experience as they were growing up.
“You know what Katrina and Bella are capable of. You also have Alisha del Campo and Sarah Castaneda who are part of the Filipinas and PH Girls U-17 goalie Sammy Hughes. So as long as you have fight, anything can happen,” Torcaso noted.
The other players are Sheen Borres, Shelah Mae Cadag, Judy Connolly, Cathrine Graversen, Rocelle Mendaño, Vrendelle Nuera, Regine Rebosora, Kayla Santiago, and Dionesa Tolentino.
Merino, who has a UEFA Level 3 Pro license, felt honored to take charge of the PH women’s futsal side.
“I look forward to working with these players to build a competitive, unified squad ready to excel in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. We are focused on achieving success in the coming tournament,” said Merino.
Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez was bullish about the prospects of the Nationals, saying: “Although I don’t want to put any pressure on them, I believe that they are capable of topping the group.
“We want to show everyone that we can compete at this high level. We would like to make our mark in the Asian region.”
The tournament serves as the second tune-up competition after last December’s AFF Women’s Futsal Cup for the Nationals, who have qualified for the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup the Philippines will host in November.
After Kuwait, the Filipina5 will take on the Uzbeks on Jan. 13, Turkmenistan two days later before wrapping up their group outing against Australia on Jan. 19.
