AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Sarina Bolden is glad she and the rest of the Filipinas are able to reflect the diversity of the Philippines as shown by the composition of the squad in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Bolden said she has seen for herself the abundance of Filipinos from all over the globe in the 18 months that the team has prepared in different parts.
“The diversity of it all that we are from different home countries. I’ve just been learning that Filipinos are literally everywhere – in the Philippines obviously, but in the States, in Europe, in South America, in Australia, there’s so many of us,” said Bolden.
“I think we are a great representation of what Filipinos are and we are far and wide,” said Bolden after the Philippines’ historic 1-0 win over New Zealand in the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
READ: Sarina Bolden deflects credit for historic game-winner
The Filipinos’ diaspora from all over the world has been one of the storylines that foreign news agencies have been narrating to this team. Asked about the number of foreign-based players in the team including 18 from the United States, head coach Alen Stajcic sees no problem with it.
“If they have Philippines in their heart and in their blood, and they're good at football, then they're eligible for our team. They all play for their flag, they all play for their country, they all play for the people in the Philippines, wherever they reside,” said Stajcic.
In a separate interview, Stajcic said he has witnessed for himself how diverse is the Philippines from no less than their neighborhood in Sydney since he was young.
Stajcic was able to see the same thing during the Filipinas’ build-up to the Fifa Women’s World Cup where Filipino fans were seen watching their friendlies, showing their support in different ways.
The Fifa Women’s World Cup matches by the Philippines have also seen several Filipinos showing up from all over the world, with one member of the Filipinas being quoted as saying that the game against Switzerland in Dunedin felt like a home game.
“In Dunedin, the mayor of Dunedin said he felt like it was a home game for us,” said Stajcic in an interview before the New Zealand game. “Having grown up in Western Sydney, how many Filipinos have spread out across my area as well. We’ve become really close even just growing up with such a big Filipino heritage in my community as well.
“Wherever we’ve traversed around the world, it’s been a massive engagement with the local communities... bringing food and gifts to the team. We really felt that connection all around the world, regardless of where we played.”
Bolden said the diversity of the team has made the Filipinas’ achievement of winning their first-ever game in the Fifa Women’s World Cup against New Zealand a special one.
“But to kind of culminate everyone together and together on the same page is amazing. It’s not easy but we found a way to be on the same page and get a win for the country,” said Bolden, who scored the lone goal for the Philippines in that contest.
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