The Philippine women’s football team during a sendoff dinner by the New Zealand Embassy. –JONAS TERRADO
MANILA, Philippines–The Filipinas were treated to a sendoff dinner by the New Zealand Embassy on Thursday as the countdown to the team’s historic participation in the Fifa Women’s World Cup winds down to its final six weeks.
Defender Hali Long, goalkeeper Inna Palacios and team administrator Belay Fernando-Dela Cruz graced the affair held at New Zealand Official Residence located inside the posh North Forbes Park in Makati City.
Tim Given, the embassy’s deputy head of mission, led the event also attended by Philippine Football Federation officials and staff led by president Nonong Araneta.
Thanh Le, a counselor for the Australian Embassy, was also on hand for the gathering that comes two days before the Filipinas leave for a training camp in Sydney.
Coach Alen Stajcic will train the team for four weeks before the Filipinas fly to New Zealand on July 10.
Auckland has been tapped as the team’s base camp for the duration of the group stage.
The Filipinas open their World Cup campaign in Group A on July 21 against Switzerland in Dunedin before facing host New Zealand on July 25 in Wellington.
Norway will be the Filipinas’ final opponent in the group stage on July 30.