FILE — Philippine women’s football team. PHOTO/Asian Football Confederation
MANILA, Philippines—Malditas no more.
Philippine national women’s football team head coach Marlon Maro said it’s time to get rid of the “Malditas” moniker due to its poor connotation.
“I don’t know how it started because when I retired from women’s coaching in 2007 there was no moniker about this thing. Personally, If you ask me, don’t like the word ‘malditas’ because it doesn’t represent the beauty of a Filipina. It doesn’t represent exactly the Filipinas,” said Maro on Tuesday during the PSA Forum
“Now that I’m back with the women’s team, I told them that we have to stop using this ‘maldita’ word,” he added. ”We’re trying to find a new one that truly represents to the world, the Filipina people.”
True enough, the label isn’t fitting for a team that is among Asia’s best after booking a slot in next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
“I’m using this platform now as coach of the team, to stop using ‘maldita’ because these are not ‘maldita’ players, they are beautiful, they are good, they are intelligent, and they are very disciplined,” said Maro. “So I think we have to look for a name again that we have to be proud of, of our Filipinas.”
The Asian Cup, which will take place in India in January, serves as a qualifier for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup where a Philippine team has never been before.