That’s why she said the continuity of the program is important.
For Inna Palacios, there’s a lot at stake whenever the Filipinas hop on the pitch wearing the tri-color jerseys.
There’s proving that their recent feats are no fluke and, more importantly, helping develop the sport in the country.
That’s why she said it’s crucial they sustain the gains of the team, which recently advanced to the second round of the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“It’s what we need: continuity of the program. To prove and to tell everyone that it’s not a one-time thing,” said Palacios on the sports show The Game on Wednesday.
“We’re here to make sure we’re developing the sport, not just the fan base but the sports itself in the country. Because it deserves it.”
But for a basketball-crazy nation like the Philippines, it’s easier said than done.
The stakeholders, she suggested, need to band together to help grow the sport especially for women looking to build a career in football after college.
“To be able to do that, there’s a lot of investments that need to be done from everyone, all the stakeholders in the sports. So it would really take a lot of effort both as spectator, player, and everyone involved in sports, not just in football but sports in general here in the Philippines,” said Palacios, whose team tallied 16 goals to finish the first round of the qualifiers with a clean sheet.
“We need to consider it a career so people can look forward to something that they can do outside collegiate level. That there’s a professional level.”