PWNFT Lands in Mumbai with huge takeaways from US Training Camp

Photo by: Asian Football Confederation

As the ladies are settling in Mumbai, the Philippine Women's National Football Team players Chandler McDaniel and Anicka Castañeda faced the media to share their experience in the United States.

Right after the qualifiers for the 2022 AFC Asian Cup in Uzbekistan, the Filipinas only had about a month's time of rest before they went to the US and prepare with the newly-appointed head coach of the PWNFT Alen Stajcic.

During the training camp, their main goal was to make the team click and be prepared for whatever their opponents are going to through at them once the competition kicks off.

"All of us feels some pressure because we all know how big of a tournament this is and how the country's depending on us. I don't think the pressure is a bad thing but for me, personally, we just take it step-by-step and we look to the Lord to give you strength to keep you going," said Chandler McDaniel.

She added, " We also lean on each other too. I think we're all dealing with it pretty well."

The soft-spoken Anicka Castañeda then said, "We all have a little bit of pressure but that's ok. How I deal with it is I like to pray a lot and just lift it up to the Lord because He's the only one who can truly help us and it's all up to Him if it's according to His plan."

Other than their faith, they also bring in a lot of experience from their training camp in the US which lasted for about two months. "The biggest takeaway is just that as a team, we can achieve a lot together because I think that a lot has changed from the last tournament in Uzbekistan to now," McDaniel shared.

On the other hand, Castañeda said, "For me, it's like we can protect together and always be there for one another on and off the field."

Upon their arrival in India, the Filipinas only have one goal in mind, to surprise everyone and hopefully give the country its maiden appearance in the FIFA Women's World Cup.

"I think we just need to focus on our goal, and that is to make it to the World Cup. The coaches really made it clear what our goal is and how we should focus on it," said Castañeda.

The 2021 ESBF Women's Football of the Year McDaniel added, "The team has a very strong mindset. I think Alen (Stajcic) and the coaching staff have contributed to that mindset but I think we are strong beforehand as well and we all know the goal and we're all willing to do whatever it takes to get to that goal."

Their opening fixture on the 21st of January, 2022 will be against Thailand, a familiar foe whom they faced 12 times already and has yet to win a match against the Chaba Kaew.

Their last match was in the 2019 AFF Women's Championship where the Thais went away with a 4-2 victory. "We just have to go in knowing what we could do well and we know that if we do those things, we will have a good chance against them (Thailand). We just have to rely on each other and what the coaches have told us in the previous games leading up to this and we know we can win," said Castañeda.

Should the Filipinas win the opening match, they will have a huge chance of making it to the knockout stages where they will be giving their all to book a ticket to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

After their meeting with Thailand, they will be facing the tournament favorites Australia on January 24 and will be capping off their group stage matches against Indonesia on the 27th.

The Filipinas only need a promising start, preferably a win in the opening fixture and a surprise draw against Australia for a fighting chance in the knockouts. Coach Stajcic is expected to meet with the press as well on the 19th of January for the pre-match press conference with the rest of group B protagonists.