First, it's the 2024 ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship this month for Victor Hermans and the Philippine women's national futsal team. Then it's a one year road towards the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup to be held right here in the country.
The Philippines is on the cusp of women’s sporting history after being awarded hosting duties for the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup that will run next year from November 21 to December 7.
Sixteen of the world’s best futsal countries will converge on yet to be determined venues in the Philippines to battle for the maiden crown in 2025.
As hosts, the Philippines will have an automatic spot in the competition and will test their mettle.
The challenge though is that the Philippine national team program is approximately only two years old and will have to grow up quickly to be able to put on a show in front of the home crowd. It's a baptism through fire for a sport in its relative infancy in the Philippines.
Leading the charge for the Philippines is Dutch mentor Victor Hermans, who has experience leading national futsal teams around the world and is a runner-up finisher with the Netherlands in the 1989 FIFA Futsal World Championships.
Highlights in Hermans’ career include stints coaching his native Netherlands in the European championships, a 2001 AFC Futsal Championship win with Iran, and podium finishes in multiple competitions including a SEA Games gold for Thailand.
Despite a treasure trove of experience dating back to the early 90s, Hermans believes the Philippine job is the most daunting task yet.
“I think this is the biggest challenge I have ever had,” Hermans admitted.
He noted the tight time frame to be ready for the Futsal World Cup.
“In the Philippines we had no futsal before,” Hermans said. “In the last two years, we set up something and the challenge is that now we have to compete with the best teams next year from the world. That is the challenge. ”
As part of the preparations for both hosting the World Cup and the national team, the Philippines will hold the inaugural 2024 ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship from November 16 to 21 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
This will see the Philippines, lovingly nicknamed the Pinay 5, take on top ranked Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Myanmar in the tournament.
This is the first competition of the Philippines since a three-nation invitational held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last October 2023.
The Pinay 5 is the lowest ranked side in the ASEAN competition, but will still look to break into the podium places nevertheless.
The 16-woman team for the tournament was revealed last November 5, composed of standouts from the local High 5 Futsal League and national football players who made the cut after a trial period.
It was a process which emphasizes there is a different skill set between 11-a-side football players and those who play 5-a-side futsal.
“Football and futsal are two different sports,” Hermans said.
Bella Flanigan, Cam Rodriguez, Alisha Del Campo, and Cathrine Graversen, were some of the senior 11-a-side national team players who were part of the preparations at the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Foundation in Muntinlupa.
Among players with appearances for the Filipinas, only Graversen and Del Campo made the squad for the ASEAN meet, while several players in the roster have caps from the national youth squad.
Hermans explained he was not just looking for technical ability in forming the squad but dedication and availability as well.
“When I was younger, you look always to the technique and challenge what the player has,” he said. “Now in these days, we looking also to the discipline and the commitment to the team.”
“That's number one, when you have players with no commitment to the team, forget them.”
Hermans also emphasized he has an understanding with the Philippine Football Federation that states he has full control over the roster and staff composition while he is in charge.
“I have a contract with the PFF, I decide the staff and the players,” Hermans said.
Is this 16-player roster going to be the team going to the World Cup?
As per Hermans, this isn’t the final squad considering the evaluations needed to be done in the build up to November 2025.
Will one year be enough to build a competitive team for the World Cup? The challenge is daunting and it has stressed out Hermans as he tries to grow the game in the country.
“Sometimes I don't sleep! Because you have some barriers to go,” Hermans admitted.
But Hermans and the rest of the national team management are confident in the talent and potential the Philippines has in the sport and are ready to see how far they can go.
The Philippines open their 2024 ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship campaign on November 16 against Myanmar at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.