Filipinas during first training in New Zealand.
The Philippine women’s football team held its first training session in New Zealand on Wednesday, more than a week before the maiden campaign in the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Social media posts made by the Filipinas showed the players training amid wet conditions at Olympic Park in Auckland where the team’s base camp is going to be located until the end of the group stage.
“The pitch is really nice. It is slick and wet like we expected,” said co-captain Hali Long. “I’m seeing a lot more sun than expected which is really nice.”
The next nine days will be crucial for the Filipinas, who hope to put up a solid showing against superior teams in Group A, namely Switzerland, co-host New Zealand and Norway.
Part of the schedule before the July 21 opener against Switzerland is a training match against Sweden on July 17 in Wellington.
The team arrived last Monday before loud cheers from those from the Philippine embassy and the Filipino community.
Tuesday saw the players walk around the city in order to acclimatize themselves to the weather, which is expected to be cold throughout the group stage.
“We really had a nice welcome from the Filipino community here at the airport,” Long said. “It’s also nice to be around all the restaurants, coffee shops and just stretch your legs, whatever. And to be right in the water like Manila Bay, but like winter.”