Malditas’ Herstoric Run of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022

Photo Credits: Philippine Women's National Football Team

It was a heartbreak for us fans that the Malditas failed to progress to the final of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup but to be honest, everything after that historic win against Chinese Taipei that sealed the country's passage to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup can be considered as a bonus.

Despite the defeat in the semifinals against South Korea, the Philippine Women's National Football Team need to lift their heads up high as they’ll go forward on to the next, they secured a golden ticket for one of the world’s most prestigious tournaments, they’ll be back harder, better, faster, and stronger.

Also, the Malditas will compete in numerous tournaments in this year’s Southeast Asian Games and the AFF Women’s Championship which will be quite special considering that the regional tournament will be held on home soil.

Securing a slot to the Quarter and Semifinals of this year’s tournament is never an easy task for our Malditas without the help of the new head coach Alen Stajcic, and to our newfound heroes: Olivia McDaniel, and Sarina Bolden. How did a group of feisty women make the journey from being mere nobodies to making history (or rather #Herstory) from making their dreams into a reality? Let's dive into it!

Encountering well-developed teams to the heavyweights of Asia

I saw them in action last 2012 watching the under 16 and under 19 competing against other countries in South-East Asia, even against Australia. If I could remember, that was the AFF Tournament held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Now, most of them have been called up to play for the national team and have grown from their previous tournaments. The Malditas only managed to finish in sixth place in the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup after a five-nil loss against the Lady Taeguks.

It became a part of their motivation to get better on the pitch, not until the Malditas crossed paths again with the Lady Taeguks in this year’s edition of the tournament. Even they got another defeat against South Korea, it can already be considered as an improvement from their previous meeting considering that a lot has changed since then.

The Malditas proved to everyone that they can go toe-to-toe with the heavyweights from Thailand, Australia, and even South Korea. Now with their long preparation for the Women’s World Cup, along with other tournaments this year, the Malditas will show the world what they’re made of.

A new inspiration for the youth and the new generation

Just what Coach Stajcic mentioned, every kid to teenager will find a source of inspiration to play the beautiful game. Aside from competing with beauty pageants to represent the country, they’ll be running around the pitch from every pass, every tackle, making every shot count as long as every member of the team plays and shares their part to move that cog in the wheel.

“To be a role model for the next generation to come. I think it’s so important that we want to give this team in women’s football longevity. We want to create more spaces for women in football and in sports in general so I think it’s really important especially for an underdog like us.” - Olivia McDaniel

As the saying goes, women can do all things just like men. Hopefully, they will encourage other girls to play football and find it as their career in the future, and open the gates to invite every little girl to teenage girls just to experience the beautiful game.

Aside from being the new role models of this generation, expect that other countries who may have the lowest rankings will look up to us as their inspiration after this campaign. As long as they have the passion, the camaraderie, the motivation, and their drive to aim for that one goal.

“Being a role model for the teams that may not be at the top. But look at us, maybe not everyone thought we would be here but like that’s the role that we’re playing for other teams. ‘Oh look at the Philippines, look at what they’re doing.

Okay we can do it.’ and I think that’s important to be able to show everyone that if we can do it, you can do it too. I think that would contribute to growing the sport in general, and raising that bar for women’s football.” - Sarina Bolden

Possible Aftermath?

I guess that the great Paulino Alcantara is smiling down in the heavens seeing our Malditas, and our nation qualifies for the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Expect that our lady booters will be discovered by top-tier football clubs both here and abroad after this tournament. Now, we're hoping these ladies would play for local football clubs in the country since most of them are playing from their respective schools in the United States, and in Metro Manila.

But if they get the opportunity to play overseas, then they’ll experience different styles of play, train more and go hungry for more to get better on the pitch. Going back to the local football scene, potential investors would come in showing their interest in the development of women’s football in the Philippines.

From investors to the fan base, would you imagine a supporters group consisting of men and women rooting for their beloved club? A woman as the capo of a supporters group? The possibilities are endless.

Football is about to get popular again, and most of us are now planning our trip for next year’s World Cup in the land of down under.

For Olivia McDaniel, Sarina Bolden, and the rest of the Malditas, the new heroes of this generation showed us the spark that became a ray of hope for our nation showing bravery, patriotism, and resilience of the Filipino people.

For Olivia McDaniel, Sarina Bolden, and the rest of the Malditas, the new heroes of this generation showed us the spark that became a ray of hope for our nation showing bravery, patriotism, and resilience of the Filipino people.

As for Stajcic, hopefully, he will stay and extend his contract with the federation until next year’s tournament. Australia may have wasted one of their greatest coaches, but his contribution as the new gaffer of the Malditas brought the three stars and the sun back on the map of international football.