Malditas called up for Manila Camp portion of AFF

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF), through head coach Ernie Nierras, revealed the identities of the 24 young women called up to participate the Manila-based camp of the Philippine Senior Women's National Team, more recognizably known as the Malditas. The camp is the final phase of preparation for the 2013 AFF Women's Championship that is scheduled to take place in Yangon, Myanmar from September 9-22.

The team includes ten players culled from the lineup that participated in the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers in Bangladesh earlier this year, including skipper Marielle Benitez and Heather Cooke as well as the three ladies who were the final cuts for the said qualifiers in Isa Mondero, Raylene Larot and Chalise Baysa.

According to Nierras, he is using this tournament as part of the Under-19 team's preparations for next year's AFC U-19.

Almost the entire team is already here in Manila and they are already deep into their two-a-day training. They will also have scheduled friendlies, including one against the Pinay Futbol League All-Stars on September 1 at the Emperador Stadium, which serves as a donation drive for the victims of Maring.

The list of participants for Manila camp of the AFF Women's Championships are as follows:

Marielle Benitez
Samantha Nierras
Patrice Impelido
Natasha Alquiros
Isa Mondero
Christina De Los Reyes
Inna Palacios
Heather Cooke
Maria Louisa Park
Joana Houplin
Camille Wilson
Olivia Schmitt
Dominique Oro
Sunshine Soriano
Amanda Empleo
Sydney Pagador
Kristyn Alonzo
Patricia Dull
Chalise Baysa
Claire Lim
Jillian Jamero
Niki Regalado
Raylene Larot
Natalie Sanderson

1 Goal For Peace

Photo c/o author

In 2004, the administration under then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo enacted Proclamation No. 675, which decrees the month of September as the National Peace Consciousness Month. This is an opportunity to educate all Filipinos on peace and the peace process.

In the nine years that the Peace Month has been established, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has been tasked to lead the observance of the event. For this year's edition, the sport of football will be kicking off, literally, the activities for the Month of Peace.

On Sunday at the PhilSports Complex, members of the Philippine national football teams, with the help of some members of the Armed Forces, who branches participate in the United Football League, conducted a football clinic to children. This is in collaboration between the PFF and the OPAPP, who announced previously that our footballers, specifically the Azkals, are deemed as "Ambassadors of Peace" for their role in building peace and solidarity as role models for all Filipinos.

The football clinic, dubbed as 1 Goal For Peace, is one of the final activities for the senior national football teams before they depart for an ASEAN country this month. The Azkals are scheduled to face three ASEAN countries in friendlies, while the Malidtas are scheduled to participate in the 2012 AFF Women's Championships in Vietnam. Members of the under-19 national team, dubbed as the Teen Azkals, also helped in teaching the children. In addition to the clinic, there was a peace fair held at the venue.




The theme for this year's Peace Month is “Ako. Ikaw. Tayo. Magkakaiba, Nagkakaisa sa Kapayapaan,” a call that everyone should come together for nation-building, in spite of our differing ethnic groups, religion, beliefs, et al. Just like in football, there are different roles and personalities in a team, but all share in one goal.

Among the officials who graced the event are Sec. Teresita "Ging" Deles of OPAPP, the PFF's Mr. Mariano "Nonong" Araneta, as well as Mr. Knut-Are Okstad of the Norwegian Embassy. In addition, representatives from the different organzations involved with the ideal of peace like the People Power Volunteers for Reform, Asia-American Initiative, Urban Poor Associates and GenPeace were in the event as well.

There are other activities lined up for the National Peace Consciousness Month, all of them detailed on the specific website OPAPP created for the month.

Sisters-In-Arms

Remember these names. These ladies are going to play for flag and country. Let's pray for their success and effort.