Alen Stajcic & The Incredible Filipinas
Following the footsteps of and in the same mold as Coach Tab Baldwin of Gilas Pilipinas, is another Coach, this time, the coach of Malditas, now renamed to Filipinas (wonder when we will change the name of Gilas).
Ok, so obviously, like Coach Tab, Coach Alen is also not Filipino, we know that.
But for someone not having Filipino blood, he sure has the heart and soul of one. He has the right attitude, never say die and the vision to turn the Philippines into a football nation. And believing that Filipinos can be Goliath beating Davids in the world of sports.
Late To The Party
The country is probably one of the last remaining nations on earth who haven't fully embraced the sport that the whole world loves to play. Don't get me wrong, of course Filipinos have long played football, millions of Filipinos love the sport, they have produced world class footballers. But we all know majority of the Filipinos are head over heels in love with basketball.
Adopted
Since taking over the head coaching job for the Malditas in the middle of this pandemic, the turn around has been ridiculous.
From nowhere to barging into the semi finals of the AFC Womens Asian Cup, to winning a game in European soil (yes against a European team), to defeating Vietnam and Thailand convincingly and win the AFF Womens Championship, to bringing the Filipinas to the World Cup in 2023 and packing over 8,000 fans at the AFF Women's Championship Game at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
There is only one way for football in the Philippines now -- up. Football is alive and well in the country and that's all that matters. Millions of young Filipinos and Filipinas will be inspired to be part of this shift.
Laban Filipinas!
The country is probably one of the last remaining nations on earth who haven't fully embraced the sport that the whole world loves to play. Don't get me wrong, of course Filipinos have long played football, millions of Filipinos love the sport, they have produced world class footballers. But we all know majority of the Filipinos are head over heels in love with basketball.
Interview with Coach Alen
Adopted
Since taking over the head coaching job for the Malditas in the middle of this pandemic, the turn around has been ridiculous.
From nowhere to barging into the semi finals of the AFC Womens Asian Cup, to winning a game in European soil (yes against a European team), to defeating Vietnam and Thailand convincingly and win the AFF Womens Championship, to bringing the Filipinas to the World Cup in 2023 and packing over 8,000 fans at the AFF Women's Championship Game at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Photo from news.abs-cbn.com
There is only one way for football in the Philippines now -- up. Football is alive and well in the country and that's all that matters. Millions of young Filipinos and Filipinas will be inspired to be part of this shift.
Laban Filipinas!