PHL Malditas launches bid for qualifying for the 2020 Olympics

THE QUEST for a spot at the 2020 Olympics for the Philippine National Women's Football Team kicked off Sunday in the first round of the Asian qualifiers in Tajikistan.

Composed mainly of players from the teams of the Philippine Football Federation's 2018 Women's League and the Association of University Athletes of the Philippines, the Malditas hope to succeed in the tournament that will run from November 4 to 13 to pass the next turn and continue playing. their Olympic hopes alive.

The Philippines is part of Group A with Singapore, Tajikistan, Mongolia and Chinese Taipei.

The format of the tournament includes the winners of the four groups, the finalists and the top two teams in third place who qualify for the second round.

The Malditas were to open their group campaign against Singapore later yesterday.

Goaltenders Inna Palacios, Nicole Reyes and Kimberly Parina are part of the Filipino women's team. defenders Ivy Lopez, Hannah Pachejo, Hali Long, Analou Amita, Alesa Dolino, Patricia Tomanon and Mea Bernal; midfielders Katyleen Rodriguez, Irish Navaja, Hazel Lustan, Sara Castaneda, Charise Lemoran, Kyla Inquig and Patrice Impelido; and the attackers Shelah Cadag, Martie Bautista and Alisha Delcampo.

The head coach is Marnelli Dimzon and attended coaches Gerald Orcullo and Melo Sabacan with Prescila Rubio as coach of the team. The director of the team is Jefferson Cheng, while the head of the delegation is Lalaine Bautista, president of the PFF Women's Football Committee and general secretary of Quezon-Battings RFA.

"The PFF wishes all the success to the Philippine National Women's Team for the first round of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Football Tournament," said PFF General Secretary Edwin Gestates in a message.

"This is the second time that the team will travel to Tajikistan for a qualification, and we hope they will perform well in the second round," he added.

The Malditas are trying to build on their impressive performance at the FIFA Asian Football Cup 2018 in Jordan last April and the 2018 AFF Women's Championship in Palembang last July.

After Singapore yesterday, the Philippine team will face Tajikistan on November 8, followed by Mongolia on November 11 and Chinese Taipei on November 13.

If the Malditas manage to pass the next round, they will start playing in April 2019. – Michael Angelo S. Murillo