Courtesy: Goal.com


Philippines Football Federation hoping to send U23, women's and futsal sides for SEA Games

by Bhas Kunju

Aug 3, 2013

The PFF believe that their football squads are all capable of good showings and deserve a chance at the regional games in Myanmar this year

Consistent improvements in the standards of Philippines football has left the nation's governing body hopeful of a South East Asian Games (SEA Games) berth in Myanmar this year.

The Philippines Football Federation (PFF) has promised to do their best to get the Under-23, women's and futsal teams to the 27th edition of the regional sports meet.

"We're ready to justify the inclusion of the teams; we're ready to submit documents and answer questions from the task force," PFF general-secretary Ed Gastanes said in an interview with philstar.com.

"We feel very strongly that football teams should be given the opportunity to represent flag and country. These teams have been training continuously and we see them as potential medalists, especially the U23 and the women’s team.”

The Philippines women's side are ranked 75th in the world in the latest Fifa rankings and are 16th in the AFC zone. They kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup alive with a resounding 6-0 win over Iran and a 4-0 defeat of Bangladesh in May and remain in second place in their group, behind Thailand to whom they narrowly lost 1-0 in the same month.

The U23 side most recently lost to their Singapore counterparts in a friendly at Hougang Stadium in June, with Safuwan Baharudin's solitary goal proving to be the difference between them.

A poor showing at the 2011 edition saw early elimination for the Philippines and they did not participate in 2007 and 2009.

The Philippines Olympic Council (POC) has set up meetings with various sporting bodies who are hoping to make the 27th SEA Games, and the football teams are still in contention.






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com