Fil-Brit Maz Pacheco opens up on possibility of playing for Filipinas

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — As the Filipinas bowed out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, there was a very interested spectator high up in the stands at Eden Park.

Filipino-British Maz Pacheco, who plies her trade in England’s Women’s Soccer League, flew into Auckland just hours before the match to support the Philippines, a country where she is eligible to play for and to represent.

Let’s go Filipinas!!!!! ?????????? @PinayFutbol #Labanfilipinas pic.twitter.com/9GBjlcnjwi

— Maz Pacheco. (@MazPacheco) July 30, 2023

Although Maz was born and raised in England, her mother who is from Zambales “was quite adamant on showing us our roots, showing us how the Filipinos live and to be grateful for what we have and the life that she created out there in England.”

And unknown to many, Pacheco is actually her "Tatay’s middle name."

“My mum was just telling me names after she was getting the divorce and I wanted to keep the Filipino heritage and I know her name was Bautista and I was like, I don't know if it fits and she goes like, 'What about Pacheco?' and she was like, 'It’s Tatay’s name' and I was like, that’s a perfect fit.”

Being eligible for both the Philippines and England, Pacheco admitted the difficulty in making the decision on which federation to play for at the senior level.

Pacheco previously represented England during her younger years, and has played in clubs such as Liverpool, Reading, West Ham United as a professional. Since 2021, she has been with the Aston Villa Women's Football Club.

“It's tough, I mean, that tough age group where — am I close to the seniors in England, (or) am I close to the Filipinas?”

“It’s a hard decision and I didn’t want to rush into it and I wanted it to be for me and not for other people and not even for family," she added.

While playing for the Philippines remains an option, it won’t become a reality anytime soon as she has yet to get her Filipino passport.

“That’s why right now, it doesn’t feel like a possibility because I don’t have it, like if I make a decision tomorrow, I can’t play, because I don’t have the passport.”

But if the Philippine passport comes today, will Pacheco play for the Filipinas?

“Again, I still don’t know. I’m torn”, she said. “That’s always my answer right now.”

“There’s days where I pick a team, there’s days where I pick the other and my mum always tells me not to rush and it has to be my decision.”

She admitted though to following the Filipinas and being updated on their results.

“I’ve been watching and Coach Alen has done a lot of international games and a lot of fixtures so the girls deserve the FIFA ranking that they have and I’m hoping that they keep pushing for higher. The higher they get, the better their opponents are and the better the girls are gonna get.”

While she has still yet to meet the team, Pacheco said she likes what she is seeing from the Filipinas.

“They are playing how Filipinos should play — with a lot of heart, and I think that’s credit to them. It doesn’t matter what the score is, I think you can feel like it’s always a possibility for them to win a game and that’s something special.”

“That’s something that only the team can create in the dressing room and that’s what the coaching staff, all the other staff that are a part of that team, and the players have done before the World Cup leading all the way into it, so I can say that, they play with heart.”

When the Filipinas qualified for the World Cup, Pacheco admitted receiving messages from supporters for her to wear the Philippine colors.

“I know, I get the messages, get the calls, get the tweets, the DMs and I love it to be honest. I’m just grateful that they see me as Filipino because sometimes you get some messages where it’s like come on, you’re 50%, so I’ve no right to play for Philippines. So, it’s nice to be supported in that sense.”

However, some fans may have been unfairly thinking that her indecision to join the Philippines was due to her waiting for an England call-up.

“It’s hard, like again, that’s not my choice. I don’t have control over that, I’ve only got control on how I play and how I train and again, like I said I’m in a tough spot.”

Whatever federation she chooses to represent, Pacheco said it would be her dream to play senior international football.

“It would be amazing to play senior international football, that’s a dream of mine and always will be and I think, God’s plan, in God’s time and that one day that will come true.”

Watching the Filipinas play in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and seeing the adulation of the Filipino fans in Eden Park, did she feel even a tinge of regret at not being able to represent the Philippines yet?

“I feel proud. I feel very proud, that's all what I am feeling now.”

“I'm happy that the [Philippine] fans will be the loudest in the stadium today. There's just something about Philippines fans, they're special.”

And for her Filipino fans, she has this to say:

“Maraming salamat. I appreciate the support, like I said, being accepted as a Pinoy even though you could say I’m only half is amazing.”

“I’m not afraid of my roots, I’m not ashamed of my roots and I’ll always go back to it and that’s what I’m proud of and to have this support is amazing.”

—JKC, GMA Integrated News