With one month to go in the Philippines’ return to Asian Games football, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has appointed Western United manager Mark Torcaso as the new head coach of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team, replacing fellow Australian Alen Stajcic.
Torcaso brings to him the distinction of bringing his Australian League (A-League) women’s club to the final of its inaugural season last April.
Two key Filipinas play for Western United—club captain Jaclyn Sawicki and full-back Angie Beard.
In the last A-League, Western United accumulated 39 points (13 wins and five losses) in the elimination round.
They defeated three-time champion and elimination round leader Sydney FC in the semifinals, 1-0, before bowing down to the same nemesis in the final, 0-4.
“My intention is to be extremely successful for this team,” Torcaso said in a PFF virtual press conference Wednesday.
“I want to win, I’m a winner. I don’t like to lose. I want to have the intention to win regardless of the opponent,” he continued, citing the success the Filipinas’ has established under Stajcic.
“The Asian Games is around the corner and we’re pressed for time but we’re happy coach Mark comes in,” commented national team manager Jefferson Cheng.
The Filipinas will debut in the Asian Games next month in Hangzhou and are grouped with fellow World Cup veteran South Korea, AFF rival Myanmar, and Hong Kong.
They will also appear in the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifying tournament in Sydney in October and are grouped with recent World Cup fourth placers Australia.
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