Weeks could have handed because the Philippine girls’s nationwide soccer workforce’s historic participation within the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, however many followers are nonetheless on a excessive after the Filipinas’ stunning marketing campaign that noticed them notch their first-ever victory in its debut look within the match.
And although the World Cup itself solely simply formally got here to an finish following Spain’s victory over England within the last on Sunday, for some groups, just like the Filipinas, eyes are already being set on looming tournaments such because the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games and the following spherical of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers.
The Philippines, although, will face a problem after having to bid farewell to some key personalities, most notably head coach Alen Stajcic, however workforce supervisor Jeff Cheng, at the least, has dedicated to proceed supporting the workforce at the least till November.
“I’m still here to support the team through the Asian Games and Round 2 of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers,” stated Cheng.
“Obviously, preparing for the Women’s World Cup involves a different level of intensity that is not sustainable on a daily basis, but making the necessary adjustments is part of the challenge moving forward.”
His continued involvement after that, nonetheless, will depend upon the management of the Philippine Football Federation, which is ready to carry elections in a number of months.
“I can’t say, though, what happens after the PFF elections in November. The direction the Federation will take after is entirely up to the next President,” Cheng added.
(Philippines’ Sarina Bolden celebrates scoring their first objective. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli)
Filipinas’ World Cup marketing campaign
The picture of Filipinas standout Sarina Bolden powering dwelling a thunderous header towards New Zealand en path to a 1-0 victory over the hosts will certainly reside lengthy within the reminiscence, as will the picture of many Filipinos from the world over celebrating the well-known triumph.
For Cheng, the outcomes and the performances had been doubly satisfying given the numerous challenges they confronted within the lead-up to the match.
“As far as my involvement in football is concerned, it was the most grueling schedule and most demanding campaign,” he shared.
“Managing the team involves some 40 people and a lot of moving parts. I don’t think anything we had to go through was easy for any member of the team, but we all had a common goal and we were all committed to perform as best we can at the Women’s World Cup.”
Overall, he was greater than happy with the outcomes of the match for the Filipinas, who completed with one win and two losses within the group stage.
“I think we did great. I would have appreciated a closer score line against Norway, but that’s nitpicking. I’m sure when we met years ago, neither of us imagined that, in 2023, you would be asking me about the Philippines at a World Cup, so it’s all good,” he stated.
Being the faces of the workforce, the gamers deservedly will get many of the consideration, however some credit score must be given to the backroom employees who did the preparation work and dealt with the logistics to make sure the workforce had been absolutely targeted on the sphere.
The assets, consideration, and element that went into the workforce’s participation within the match may have been unmatched within the nation’s historical past.
“I never got into this expecting anything so I don’t know exactly how to quantify ‘worth’, but I think the Filipinas’ World Cup participation brought enough joy and hope and smiles to enough people around the world—whether our players, staff, their families, friends, Philippine sports fans, or just keen football observers—that I can say I’m happy with how things turned out,” Cheng stated.
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(Filipinas Philippine nationwide girls’s soccer workforce. Photo: FIFAWWC/Twitter)
Greater involvement in sports activities
Cheng hopes that after the eye gained in the course of the World Cup will translate into extra alternatives for Filipinos who would wish to take this profession path.
“I personally do not consider it a goal to oust basketball or volleyball as the most popular sports in the Philippines. I just hope football gains enough popularity to become a financially viable investment or career choice for those who really want to do it full-time,” the supervisor stated.
“And I hope more and more Filipinos would consider it worthwhile to know the basics of football and have some interest to watch it even casually.”
From a sporting standpoint, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has been a convincing success not only for the Philippines, however extra so for hosts Australia, who’ve seen the game achieve extra recognition than ever earlier than – one thing which Cheng says the Philippines can take classes from.
“As regards to Australia, I think the more important lesson for us to learn is how to make sports an integral part of life—at school or after school, of weekends, of spending time with family or friends, as exercise or a hobby, to participate in or to watch on TV.”
“It does not matter which sport is number one or number two, three or four, the whole country benefits from greater involvement in sports.”
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
