(CNN Philippines) — The Philippine women’s football team has achieved another historic feat after dominating regional powerhouse Thailand in the finals of the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship.
This was a remarkable achievement given that the Philippines, known to be a basketball-crazy nation, ended decades of obscurity in a sport that is acknowledged to be the most popular in the world.
Since the start of the tournament, national team head coach Alen Stajcic and top goalscorer Sarina Bolden have been urging local fans to watch their matches at the venue to help the Filipinas feel the home field advantage.
The gate attendance at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila slowly grew when the Filipinas began to collect wins. This should have never been the case in the first place since this squad, for the first time in over four decades of its existence, is going to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup where the best countries will be competing at the highest level.
It is a welcome development to see 8,257 spectators present at the finals of this year’s AFF Women’s Championship. However, that number is still a far cry from what basketball has been receiving throughout the years, especially in a high-stakes game.
This recent victory will be the talk of the town in the coming days and weeks, but it should not stop there. Supporting a national team in any sport should be unconditional and not only when they are winning.
Hopefully, the Filipinas have finally earned the respect they have been yearning for after this triumphant campaign.
