MANILA – National women’s football team mainstays Quinley Quezada and Sarina Bolden were more than thrilled with their forthcoming stint in the WE (Women Empowerment) League in Japan.
Bolden, who will play for the Chifure AS Elfen Saitama squad, said she is excited to compete in the competition, tagged as Japan’s newest professional top-flight division.
“I am thrilled and honored to be a part of the WE League’s historic first season this year. I can’t wait to be out there,” said Bolden, who scored a hat trick for the Philippines in their game against Malaysia in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
“I’d like to thank the Philippine Football Federation for helping and supporting me throughout this process, [and I also] thank the WE League for cultivating diversity, empowering women, and making it bigger than just soccer,” she added.
For Quezada, playing for the JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies team when the WE League kicks off in September is an exciting experience that could help her refine her skills.
“God answered my prayers about this, and I feel very blessed! I’m immensely grateful and excited for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to get started,” said Quezada, who played for the Philippine team in the AFF Women’s Championship.
Quezada and Bolden got nominated by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) – led by its president Mariano Araneta – as the country’s ASEAN player to Japan’s first-ever women’s professional football league.
“We thank the Japan Football Association for extending the invitation to our Filipino players to play in the WE League,” said Araneta. “We wish both Quinley and Sarina the best of luck in representing the country in the league.”
According to PFF general secretary Atty. Ed Gastanes, Quezada and Bolden will serve as inspiration to other female football players in the country to strive harder to get a chance to play abroad.
“Quinley and Sarina may be the first but certainly not the last Filipina players who will play in the Japan WE League. We hope to see more Filipina football players on the international stage in the coming years,” he added./PN
