Carina Palla (left) and Jodie Ramsay. Photo by Randolph Leongson.
Cheering for a foreign country on a land they just set foot on, both Carina Palla and Jodie Ramsay felt surprisingly at home.
Yes, it helps that their husbands are both playing for the national team. But for a country like the Philippines, a nation not really known for the sport of football, the two were just hooked with the fans’ enthusiasm.
READ: PH Azkals beat Bahrain to open World Cup qualifiers
“It’s amazing,” said Carina, the wife of Azkals defender Stephan.
Jodie, Azkals midfielder Iain’s wife, agreed.
“I love the drums. I don’t want them to stop playing cause it’s so fun,” she said as she surveyed the Philippine Sports Stadium.
READ: Honeymoon on hold as new recruit Ramsay beefs up Azkals
With the two wives’ excitement, it didn’t seem like they cancelled their respective honeymoons just to give way to their husband’s duties for the national team.
Both the Pallas and the Ramsays were just married a few weeks before the Philippines’ match against Bahrain last Thursday. The match led the couples to make the trip to the country and that proved to be a good decision for both.
READ: No honeymoon for Azkals newcomer Palla
“It’s totally fine because I know Iain is doing what he actually loves, and I’m lucky enough to be here cheering him on,” said Jodie, who bared that she and his now-husband met through soccer friends back in their native Australia. “This is quality time for us because we both love football. It’s actually amazing.”
Ramsay said that seeing Iain walk out of the pitch as a part of the Azkals’ starting XI was quite a special scene for her.
“It’s honestly amazing. I can’t put into words when I saw him walking out to the pitch and singing the national anthem. It was amazing,” she said.
Palla, who also hails from Austria, also felt the same when her husband came out to the field.
“I’m really happy for him. I support him, and I’m proud,” said Carina.
Though the Pallas were originally slated to go to Sardinia for their honeymoon, Carina said that her experience in the Philippines has definitely outweighed any of their original plans.
“It doesn’t matter (that we’re not able to go to our honeymoon). I support him. We both love football and we are here now. It’s amazing,” she said.
As Stephan and Iain continue their Azkals stint, Carina and Jodie will surely to be there in the stands cheering their partners. CFC