Why do Filipino women's football makeover?

On the evening of July 17, the Philippines lowered Thailand 3-0 in the 2022 AFF Cup final with an overwhelming battle. This is not only their first Southeast Asian championship, but also the first time the Philippine female team won the title in any tournament.

All 11 Filipino players who played in that game were born and raised abroad, just like Vietnam's goalkeeper Deng Wenlin. They are all mixed-race players, mainly half-American, and have better physique and physical strength than the average level in Southeast Asia.

In fact, coach Alen Stajcic filled in the names of 22 hybrid players on the competition list. That said, he could rotate the entire squad to meet the match density of two days per game of the game, while still ensuring all hybrid players are on the pitch.

Of the 22 players, 19 were born in the United States. They all have Filipino parents and are of two ancestry. The other three players grew up in Australia, Canada and Norway. Five all-Filipino players barely played.

The Philippines sports have only been famous for "3B" subjects, basketball, boxing and billiards. Football, especially women's football, only achieved modest results. They did not pass the AFF Cup group stage in the first nine periods. Only when the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) starts to attract hybrid players for the team, can they "pick sweet fruits" when reaching the semi -finals of the 2019 women's AFF Cup. Winning the right to host the tournament in 2022, and to the championship.

Drawing on experience from there, PFF used the entire team of female growth in the West. They are taught and eaten in the world's number one football background, with better training and nutrition lesson plans than Southeast Asia. Although only playing for American universities, Stajcic's army still has a better foundation than rivals in Southeast Asia. By the championship of American universities (NCAA) is the place to choose potential young players for the team.

Moreover, the gap in women's football level is much more significant than that of men. Vietnam, for example, ranks 32nd in FIFA and always loses by a huge margin to an 18th team like South Korea. The gap between Czech 32nd men's team and Senegal 18th team is not big. This means that the gap between American women's football and Vietnam or Thailand is too big at present.

Sarina Bolden won the 2022 AFF Women's AFF Cup Top Scorer with eight goals, one more than Huynh As. In the semifinals and finals, Bolden scored three goals and contributed greatly to the recent Achievement of the Philippines. The 26-year-old striker was involved with the U.S. U23 team while playing for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.

Bolden is 1.73 m tall, while Vietnam's tallest player is defender Thu ThuOng only reached 1.68 m. There are seven other Players of the Philippines who are 1.70 meters or higher, not to mention 10 who do not have this parameter.

Captain Tahnai Annis was also born in the US as Bolden, and played in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Many other players are also playing for clubs in the top leagues of strong countries in women's football such as Sweden, Norway or Japan, these players have a better foundation than Mai Duc Chung's teachers and students. Through many sessions of concentration, they became stronger and stronger because they understood each other's play better.

Stacic's students, who are half Filipino, are just as dedicated as their all-African teammates. Midfielder Maya Alcantara said: "We are Americans and Filipinos with the same culture and growing environment. We regard each other as family and will do everything to support each other. One important thing in Philippine culture is family, and we do everything for them."

The Philippines lost 15 women's football matches to Vietnam ahead of the 2022 AFC Women's Cup semi-final. Among them, they scored 5 goals and conceded 73 goals. The last time the two teams met was in the group stage of the East Games on May 31, 2022. Under pressure from more than 16,000 Cam Pha spectators, the Philippines lost 2-1 to Vietnam despite progress. But when the two teams reunited at Rizal Memorial Hall on July 15th, the Philippines won 4-0 at home. "Vietnam is the strongest in Southeast Asia, but the Philippines deserved to win. This is a milestone in Philippine football," he said after deposing Vietnam.

In addition to professional factors, the support of the home audience also helped the Philippines to sublimate. More than 8,000 Filipino fans came to watch the final, when they defeated Thailand. "It was difficult to play with the cheers of the opponent audience, like we experienced at the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam," Bolden said after winning the championship on the evening of July 17. "But when we got cheers from the audience, we felt more happy and excited. The fans helped the team a lot."

The strategy to attract hybrids might be thought of as "building a house from the roof," but Filipinos don't see it that way. Head coach Stacic believes the Philippines' success in the 2023 World Cup final or winning the Women's AFF Cup in 2022, among other things, is a boost to more interest in football there. "When the Australian men's team returned to the 2006 World Cup, the country's interest in football soared," said the coach who once led the Australian women's team. "We hope this will be repeated in the Philippines."

During the Women's AFF Cup from July 4 to July 17, the Facebook account of the Philippine women's team increased from 44,896 likes to 64,784 likes, equivalent to 44%. The account number of this national men's team has 72,445 likes. Filipino women's football may be more interested than men in the near future, especially when they are able to compete in the 2023 World Cup.

In any case, the success of the Philippines has been welcomed by the people. The top comments on this team's fan page all have the word "pride".