It’s full speed ahead for the Filipinas.
The Philippine women’s national football team has been ramping up its preparations with just over a month before the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
On Saturday, the national team released its provisional squad composed of 29 players, most of whom will join the training camp in Sydney, Australia.
According to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), the Filipinas, who moved up to 46th place in the world rankings, will also hold friendly matches building up to the FIFA World Cup.
“Training camp muna kami sa Australia for one month, for acclimation kasi parang winter sila dun,” PFF President Mariano Araneta told Noli Eala in Radyo5's Power and Play. “After that, we go to our base camp in New Zealand, but may mga naka-lineup kasi na friendlies, but we're still finalizing it.”
This will be the first time that the Philippines will be competing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. That’s why for the PFF, all the necessary preparations will be needed to ensure that the Filipinas will have a chance at competing.
“It's historical for the Philippines and for the Filipinas, so talagang sabi nga natin eh, we're not just there to show up, we're there to compete,” said Mariano.
But with about 6 weeks left before the tournament, the Filipinas will have to make all the sacrifices they can do in order to be fit and ready for the FIFA World Cup.
“We have to prepare the team and the team knows that. They know that it'll take a lot of hard work to be fit just before the World Cup,” said Mariano. “Sabi nga eh, this will be the hardest 4 weeks of their lives.”
All eyes will be on the Filipinas as they look to make even more history come the tournament itself.