Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13) – Philippine women’s football team head coach Alen Stajcic explained his decision to stay with the Filipina booters.
“It definitely was a decision of the heart,” Stajcic said during a virtual media roundtable organized by the Philippine Football Federation on Friday.
Stajcic bared he has received coaching offers from a European club, a men’s national football team, and some squads in the men’s professional league in his home country Australia.
“For me, we started the journey. So now, it’s a process of really getting into the fun part and working hard to get to that World Cup. Definitely, it was a decision of passion which spelled the difference,” said Stajcic.
The Australian guided the Filipina footballers in their historic achievement last January, where they clinched the country’s first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup berth. They also became the first Philippine football team to make it to a FIFA World Cup tournament.
Philippine women’s football team manager Jeff Cheng attested to Stajcic’s dedication in leading the squad to greater heights.
“I can see that his heart is with the Philippine national team and I respect him greatly for that. I think that was what made him decide to extend the contract,” said Cheng.
Before their much awaited Women’s World Cup debut in July 2023, Stajcic will call the shots for upcoming tournaments like the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in May in Hanoi, Vietnam; the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship here in July, and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September.
Stajcic said that for the Vietnam SEAG, he is looking to hold the training camp here and play some friendlies in the country.
The head coach added they may tap in the SEAG some players who failed to make it to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup roster, since some booters are playing in overseas professional leagues. The May 12-23 SEA Games is not a FIFA window, a period where pro players can play for their national teams.
Longtime national team mainstays Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada are both playing in the Japan WE League, while recent Philippine team debutante Katrina Guillou is listed in Swedish club Pitea IF.
“20 of the 23 are unattached with clubs. From a positive perspective, that means they will be available for the SEA Games. From the negative perspective, some of the local girls and foreign players, they haven’t been in a full training camp environment,” he said.
