Med student Ryley Bugay finds self in ‘unique situation’ competing for Filipinas’ World Cup spot

Filipinas’ Ryley Bugay. Photo from the Philippine national women’s volleyball team Facebook

MANILA, Philippines-Ryley Bugay is glad to be in a position to compete for a spot in the Philippine women’s football team’s roster for the Fifa Women’s World Cup after spending several months beginning to pursue her other dream.

The 27-year-old has been part of the Filipinas’ training camp in Sydney, Australia after completing her first year studying medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville.

“I was in a pretty unique situation,” Bugay said in an interview posted on the Filipinas’ social media accounts. “I was accepted into medical school, and I have completed my first year of training as a medical student.”

She added that coach Alen Stajcic and the rest of his staff have been nothing but supportive of her off-the-pitch dream, which the defender began to chase after dealing with a number of injuries she had in high school.

“I’ve been pretty lucky that the coaches and the staff have been pretty understanding of me trying to pursue two dreams at the same time,” she said.

Bugay is one of 29 players who will seek to make the final cut for the World Cup which the Philippines is competing for the first time.

The Filipinas are in the midst of completing their month-long camp in Sydney before heading to New Zealand on Monday to begin final preparations for the July 21 opener against Switzerland.

“We’ve been here for about a month now, so we’re kind of ramping up the intensity and kind of fine-tuning the little details as we’re getting closer to leaving for New Zealand,” Bugay said.

“But overall, it’s been a positive experience.”

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