MANILA – Sarina Bolden and Hali Long will spearhead the national women’s football team pool in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Bolden and Long, who was the co-team captain of Filipinas with Tahnai Annis, were among the 29-woman provisional pool released by the Philippine Football Federation over the weekend.
Also in the Filipinas pool is Filipina-Australian Angie Beard, who formally switched federations after previously playing for Australia with Brisbane, Melbourne, and Fortuna squads.
The 25-year-old Beard, whose mother hails from Cebu Province, joined the Alen Stajcic-mentored national women’s football squad during their training camp back in October 2022.
Among those called up were goalkeepers’ Kiara Fontanilla, Kaiya Jota, Olivia McDaniel, and Inna Palacios and defenders’ Maya Alcantara, Alicia Barker, Reina Bonta, Jessika Cowart, Malea Cesar, Sofia Harrison, and Dominique Randle.
Among the selections for midfielders were Anicka Castañeda, Sara Eggesvik, Kaya Hawkinson, Eva Madarang, Isabella Pasion, Quinley Quezada, Jaclyn Sawicki, Jessica Miclat and Ryley Bugay
Bolden will lead the attack for the no.46 ranked Philippine women’s team alongside the likes of Isabella Flanigan, Carleigh Frilles, Katrina Guillou, Chandler McDaniel, and Meryll Serrano.
“This is the biggest stage in women’s football and the Filipinas will be shining a spotlight on the country. The team wants to make the country proud that’s why we are doing everything possible to prepare the team,” said Filipinas team manager Jeff Cheng.
Cheng added that the 29-player pool will be trimmed down to 23 as they go on a month-long pre-World Cup training camp at the Western Sydney Wanderers Complex in Sydney Australia
There is still no word as to whether the Filipinas will have some friendlies just before they engage in the World Cup, where they will play the likes of Switzerland on July 21, host nation New Zealand on July 25, and Norway on July 30./PN
