OPINION: PFF must take better care of Filipinas too – before it's too late

Filipinas fans were treated to a surprise Valentine’s Day present last February 14, as the Philippine Women’s National Football Team announced the team’s participation in the CFA International Women’s Football Tournament Yongchuan 2025.

The CFA Tournament held in Chongqing, China would have pitted the Philippines (ranked 41st) against reigning AFC Women’s Asian Cup Champions China (17th), neighbors Thailand (47) and Zambia (64).

After a “special homecoming intrasquad match” by the Filipinas to formally open the MOA Football Pitch end February, it was hoped that this tournament would finally be a chance for the Filipinas to test their mettle against some heavyweights of international women’s football.

Post-intrasquad match, questions were posed to the coaches and the players on how this intrasquad scrimmage would prepare the team in the CFA Tournament. Needless to say, as of that moment on the night of February 25, it was all systems go to China.

That is why it came as genuine shock to most, including this writer, that on March 19, 2025, the Chinese Football Association posted the match schedule for the said tournament – a schedule that did not include the Philippines.

Confirmation finally came from the PFF on March 23 that the Philippines would indeed not participate in the Yong Chuan tournament, but would instead play the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

We're heading west to Dubai instead next month! ??

A coaching decision has rerouted our trip where we will be looking at two friendly matches against the United Arab Emirates. ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/UJKfPnKiaG

— Philippine Women's National Football Team (@PilipinasWNFT) March 23, 2025

With all due respect to the United Arab Emirates (ranked 112th), I believe that no one thinks that playing them was an upgrade to playing China, Thailand and Zambia.

Not only are the three aforementioned countries ranked much higher than the UAE in the FIFA rankings, they have also participated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, bringing with them pedigree and experience.

Playing three teams in a quasi-group stage format would have been good preparation for the Filipinas for the Asian Cup qualifiers.

With the 2025 AFF Women’s Championship looming, a rematch with rivals Thailand would have been a good gauge as to how we stand against them two years after our famous victory in the 2022 final.

So, why the sudden withdrawal two weeks before the tournament in China?

Logistical issues were said to be the culprits.

But said logistical concerns were already the valid concerns BEFORE the PFF announced participation in the CFA Tournament in February. 

So why announce participation in February, only to withdraw involvement 12 days before the tournament?

This is but one of the many arguments the fans have against the PFF when they say that the Federation may not be doing as much for the women’s team as it has for the men’s. Is the PFF doing enough to prioritize the Filipinas?

Make no mistake, the Philippine Men’s National Team deserve our support and the country’s kudos. This is especially true after the exploits in the last edition of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup, where the Philippines made the semi-finals and have looked to finally find stability in the coaching front, with Albert Capellas doing wonders with his ‘Capellas Ball’ style of play.

But this is not a zero-sum game. Meaning, both the Men’s and the Women’s teams can thrive – and do well at the same time - with the proper support and delegation.

Director of National Senior Teams Freddy Gonzalez is handling both the men’s and the women’s teams, and he’s worked hard to make sure both teams get the funding they need. But ultimately handling both teams – and making sure they live up to their potential - may be too much on anyone’s plate.

But lest it bear reminding, the Filipinas is the current crown jewel of the PFF.

Reigning AFF Women’s Champions, semi-finalists in the last Asian Cup, and did we forget already? – participants in the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.

After reaching such great heights, it is heartbreaking to see the women’s team not given the proper training they need and deserve, and miss out on opportunities to improve.

The non-participation of the CFA Tournament, and its replacement with the UAE games is the most recent example, alongside the promised ‘three matches (at home) in November’ made by Freddy Gonzalez last August 2024, but did not materialize.

Thus, the overriding feeling amongst fans, understandably, is that the Filipinas have not been given priority by the PFF.

My take? PFF isn’t prioritizing one over the other. But, with limited resources and with the impending hosting of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup late this year, the PFF has its hands tied and has to make do with what they have, which has led fans to yearning for the multiple training camps and competitive games of the past years that has led to so much positive success on the field for the Filipinas.

Nonetheless, we stand behind the Filipinas -- even in the desert heat of Dubai, whoever they face. 

Veteran names and some notable new faces headline the Filipinas’ squad list for the Dubai camp. But one name in particular will be on many fans’ radars: Fil-Brit Mayumi Pacheco.

After years of the fans’ online courtship, the Aston Villa defender looks set to finally don the Philippines’ colors, where she looks to use her years of WSL experience to help the Filipinas’ cause.

For the Filipinas, it is extremely imperative that they put this Dubai camp to good use, as they ramp up preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in June. 

The one silver lining playing against a weaker opponent on paper: the chance for the team to test out a system of play under Mark Torcaso and to test the new faces in the squad.

Much like a baby that fans have seen grow before their very eyes, the Filipinas holds a special place in Filipino football fans’ hearts. 

It is true that the recent success of the team was born from consistent high level training camps, quality recruitments and continuous support. 

But through it all, the one constant through the Filipinas’ journey was the fans unwavering support.

With our neighbors and rivals improving as well, it is important that the team continue to feel the fans’ omnipresent support as they march on their quest to make even more herstory.

Laban pa din tayo, Filipinas!

—JMB, GMA Integrated News