Jeff Cheng (first, front row) takes a selfie with the young Filipinas during happier times. —PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM/FACEBOOK
The future of the Philippine women’s football team, almost a year removed from a historic debut in the Fifa (International Federation of Football Associations) Women’s World Cup, was put under a cloud of uncertainty following the decision of Jefferson Cheng to relinquish his management role.
Cheng, who has been team manager even when countless achievements were still a dream, made his announcement on Sunday, a decision stemming on the direction of the country’s most successful national football squad.
“For several months, we tried our best to make things work, under new and very different circumstances,” Cheng said in a statement relayed to football beat writers. “Unfortunately, the situation is not workable.”
Cheng did not mention any individual or group with a contrasting vision, but stopped short of mentioning the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) or any of its top brass.
The federation is eight months removed from installing John Gutierrez as successor to long-time president Nonong Araneta.
“Our priorities and goals do not align, and the PWNT (women’s team) organization that we worked hard to develop in the past years is incompatible with current methods,” said Cheng.
Cheng informed his decision to director of national teams Freddy Gonzalez, who admitted that the eventual successor will have big shoes to fill.
Unimaginable heights
Gonzalez, and the PFF, which came out with a separate statement thanking Cheng’s contributions, did not address Cheng’s sentiments.
“It’s a huge challenge, but I have every intention to make sure we keep the program of the women’s national team progressing in the right direction. We must continue building on Jeff’s great work,” said Gonzalez.
Under Cheng, the women’s team reached unimaginable heights, appearing in two Women’s Asian Cups in 2018 and 2022. It was also in 2022 when the team claimed a bronze medal in the pandemic-delayed Southeast Asian Games and the Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship.
The 2022 Asian Cup in India also saw the Filipinas secure a historic berth to the 2023 World Cup following a dramatic quarterfinal victory over Chinese-Taipei via penalty shootout.
At the World Cup in New Zealand, the Filipinas gave themselves a fighting chance as debutants, and produced a stunning win over the cohosts in Wellington on Sarina Bolden’s first-half header.
Alen Stajcic handled the Filipinas during that World Cup stint while fellow Aussie Mark Torcaso has been at the helm since that campaign, steering them to a quarterfinals berth at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
The youth team was eventually integrated into the program under Cheng, with the U-17s reaching their age-group version of the Asian Cup for the first time a few months ago. INQ