FOOTBALL chief John Gutierrez yesterday assured everyone that the Filipina5, the national women’s futsal squad, won’t be mere pushovers in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup the country will host in November.
“We are here (in the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup) not just to participate. We are here to make an impact,” Gutierrez, the Philippine Football Federation president, stressed during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at the PSC conference room in Malate, Manila.
“Do we think that we can make it all the way to the finals? I myself, the players and the coaching staff would be remiss in our duties if we did not strive for that,” he said of the aspirations of the charges of Spanish coach Rafa Merino.
“If we consider ourselves as mediocre to powerhouses such as Spain, Brazil, Italy and Canada, which has been fantastic so far, what is the point of (hosting) this thing. We should think just the opposite,” he added.
Gutierrez said the Filipina5 have already proven through the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers and main competition that they can play with the best of ‘em on the global stage.
“We went to Uzbekistan (for the qualifiers) and China (for the main tournament) to tell not just the world but ourselves that we can compete,” said the PFF honcho in the program backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, San Miguel Corp., Milo Smart/PLDT and gaming sports app Arena Plus.
He cited the Nationals’ opening match in the Asian Women’s Futsal Cup in Hohhot, China last May against two-time defending champion Iran.
“Our first game in China was against the two-time defending champion Iran, and they escaped us. They scored in the 38th minute of the match and we lost by a point. So that’s the kind of caliber team we have,” Gutierrez emphasized.
He said the PFF would assemble the most competitive squad for the FIFA Women’s World Futsal Cup that will be staged at the Philsports Arena in Pasig and Victorias City Coliseum in Negros Occidental from Nov. 21 to Dec. 7.
Among those tipped to make the final 14-member roster, he said, are Isabella Flanigan, Katrina Guillou and Dionesa Tolentin, who also suit up for the national women’s squad, and goalkeeper Samantha Hughes.
“I was reluctant to name them as shoo-ins because I believe that everyone has an equal chance to play for the national team as they can perform up to standard,” Gutierrez said.
Also a forum guest, Isabella Fernando, who heads the government relations of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Local Organizing Committee, revealed that among the highlights leading to the blue-ribbon tournament will be the official drawing of lots on Sept. 15 at the BGC in the city of Taguig.
“By then, we will know what countries in what brackets will be playing in the elimination or group stage,” Fernando said.
Japan and Thailand complete the quarter of Asian representatives for the competition together with host Philippines and Iran while qualifying for Africa are Tanzania and Morocco.
North America will be represented by Canada and Panama, South America by Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, Europe by Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain, and Oceania by New Zealand.
Both officials assured everyone that with 94 days before the Nov. 21 kick-off of the maiden Women’s Futsal World Cup, “we are ready. This is a milestone for women’s sports.”
