She will be a key cog in the tournament as they look to make even more history.
Not many Filipinos can say they’ve been to Tajikistan. Let alone twice. But Philippine Women’s National Football Team (PWNFT) mainstay Eva Madarang now can.
The Filipinas open their campaign in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament today against Pakistan at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.
For Madarang, competing in the Central Asian nation is a “full circle” moment, having made her debut for the national team in the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification in Tajikistan, where she also scored her first goal for the Philippines.
“Being back here, it’s actually really exciting to see where I started with the national team, scoring my first goal, my first tournament. It brings a lot of happy memories,” said Madarang in a video posted by the PWNFT on Instagram.
The Filipinas had their first practice yesterday, which the veteran defender described as “loose and fun.”
Things will definitely get more serious though in their match against Pakistan, which is ranked no. 161 in the world. While the Filipinas, which recently earned a record-high world ranking of 49, may be the clear favorites, the charged-up booters aren’t throwing caution to the wind.
For the 25-year-old Madarang, it will be extra special.
“It’s cool, I’d never think I’d be back to see Tajikistan. I'm really excited for the tournament to start. It’s a full circle (for me),” said the New Jersey native.
The match is set for later at 7 p.m. Manila time.
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The Filipinas aim to make more history in the tournament as they fight for a slot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. They must top Group E, which also includes Tajikistan and Hong Kong, to advance to the next round.