Don’t take the Filipinas for granted.
Just a year ago the Philippine Women’s Football Team etched the Philippines in history books by beating Chinese Taipei in an emotional AFC Women's Asian Cup shootout to qualify for the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Twelve full months after that and Filipinas co-captain Hali Long said she still can’t believe that the squad has achieved a colossal feat.
“Feels like just a couple months ago. It also didn't feel that we had qualified, even still, still doesn't feel real, but I'm starting to grasp it more and more,” Long said in a look-back video posted by the national team’s official page. “It's hard to think back that was already a year ago.”
Long recalled how the Filipinas were “quiet” before their historic match that sealed the ticket to the World Cup.
“I remember the team being kind of quiet that day. Just thinking if this is a good quiet, nervous quiet, bad quiet but I think it turned out to be a good kind of quiet,” she said. “People were a little tense but I think we all channeled it the best that we could.”
The team Philippines’ center back believes their journey to the World Cup is a testament that “anything is possible.” Now, the Filipinas have evolved from underdogs to regional threats and Long knows it doesn’t come without responsibilities.
“Success comes with expectations, expectations comes with pressure, and that pressure is a privilege. To say that we have that is a responsibility now.”
2022 has been historic for the Filipinas — qualifying for the World Cup, winning bronze in the SEA Games and topping the AFF Women’s Championship — and the group of highly motivated Pinays are geared to make more history this year.
Before the World Cup in July, the Philippine Women’s Football Team will start their journey for the 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers this April and then there’s the SEA Games in May.