PHL women’s national football team set for Costa Rica training camp

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Philippine Women’s National Football Team is ready for another overseas training camp as part of its preparations for the upcoming 2023 FIFA World Cup.

After their two-week camp in California from the last week of August until September 6, 2022, the Filipina booters will fly to Costa Rica in October for an 11-day training.

Aside from their overseas training camp, the national football team will also face Costa Rica’s Women’s football squad in a pair of friendly matches.

The Filipinas together with their coaching staff will be practicing at San Jose and will have their first friendly against Costa Rica on October 8 (Philippine time) to be held at the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium.

After the October 8 kick-off, the two national teams are set to face in a final encounter on October 11 to cap off the PHL’s Costa Rica training camp.

“We are pleased that the Filipinas are getting these type of matches as they continue their preparations for the World Cup,” said Ilonggo sportsman and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

After winning its first-ever AFF championship title two months ago after beating the powerhouse Thailand squad, 3-0, the PWNFT committee has expressed its full support to bring PHL football to greater heights.

Team manager Jeff Cheng then reiterated how important these overseas training camps are as they face the best of the best in the World Cup next year.

“The team needs as much time together as the players’ schedules will allow, and the more competitive matches we play, the more team cohesion and chemistry will improve,” said Cheng.

The PWNFT is also looking to maintain its impressive international friendly record after taking down Fiji, Tonga, and Bosnia & Herzegovina during their past matches.

However, two weeks ago, the Filipinas fell short against the New Zealand Football Ferns during their California camp, 2-1.

“We improved a lot but there’s no doubt that expectations and goals are higher and we know how hard it is to keep climbing so we’re working hard trying to reset our goals to keep striving for more success,” said PWNFT head coach Alen Stajcic.