Playing just her second game in front of a home crowd in the Philippines, Fil-Australian Angie Beard wants to give fans something to cheer for.
Filipino-Australian Angie Beard has spent a few years already with the Philippine women’s national football team. But she’s only ever played an official match at home once, which ended up in a loss against Chinese Taipei earlier this year.
Coming back for the Manila camp this time around, Beard is hoping for a shot at redemption — both for herself and for the home crowd.
The Filipinas will wrap up their October camp with an international friendly against fellow Asian Cup-bound team Uzbekistan at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, where they will try to give the fans lots to cheer about.
[READ: Filipinas hope to be ‘100% focused’ in friendly vs Uzbekistan]
“I definitely believe that anytime we put on the Filipinas jersey, we're wanting to be successful, wanting to fight for not only each other, the coaching staff, but the country.” Beard said in a brief press conference on Tuesday morning.
“When we come here to the Philippines, it's our home and we want to protect and defend our home.”
More than just a friendly
More than just bragging rights and momentum, the Filipinas are looking for a great start to the final stretch of preparations for the Southeast Asian Games later this year where they seek a podium finish in Bangkok.
With big tournaments coming in the next few months — including their stint in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia early next year.
As they seek a return trip to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Filipinas are hoping to build great energy from the get-go.
“Ultimately, as Coach Mark [Torcaso] just said, we want that winning mentality,” she said.
“We want the habit of not just being in goals, fighting for games, but controlling games and being comfortable with football, comfortable with the ball, and just displaying that fighting nature that we have here in the Philippines, for sure,” she added.
The Filipinas kick off against Uzbekistan at 7pm on Wednesday at the iconic Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.