RP women's team leaves for Thailand soccer tilt on Friday

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Philippine women's football team will do some of their Holy Week meditation on a plane enroute to Rakhon Natchasima, Thailand, where they will compete in the Asian Women's Cup. The Pinay booters will leave on Good Friday and will be going up against South Korea, Malaysia, and host Thailand, according to a statement issued by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) on Wednesday. Up for grabs in the tournament is one of two slots to the Asian Women's Cup proper. "We don't expect any miracles. But this doesn't mean we won't be out there fighting. Definitely, this won't be a vacation for the girls," said head coach Hans Smit, whose charges were formed barely a month before the event. The Filipina booters had to go through a crash course, as most of them had to fulfill their collegiate league commitments and some have to come from abroad, Smit said. "This is no excuse but the reality we have to deal with," Smit, a mutlititle La Salle mentor said. Smit's last international coaching stint was with the RP squad that saw action in the 2004 Asian Under-19 tournament in China. Most of the team members are newcomers, but Smit retained its core of veterans, including strikers Edna Agravante and Fil-Am Angie Empelido, midfielders Natasha Alquiros, Merlou Albano, Marielle Benitez, Samantha Nierras, and defender Josephine Luto. Among the overseas reinforcements is lanky Filipino-Canadian defender Mallory Dayot, who was a member of the RP squad that beat Hong Kong in the first round in October 2007. The nationals have their work cut out for them right away as they tackle Asian soccer powerhouse South Korea on March 24, followed by host Thailand on March 26, before winding up their campaign against Malaysia on March 28. "We hope to limit South Korea's goals to a minimum and hopefully launch some counterattacks of our own. The same with the Thais. I believe we can beat Malaysia," Smit said. The tournament will take place in the sprawling His Majesty the King's 80th Anniversary Football Stadium, venue of the 2007 Southeast Asian Games soccer competitions, three hours away from the Thai capital of Bangkok. The RP football team Edna Agravante, Merlo Albano, Natasha Alquiros, Marigen Arielle, Marielle Benitez, Pauline Cuenca, Alicia dela Pena, Rachelle delos Reyes, Leia Flameno, Maria Claris Lazaro, Bertha Lina, Josephine Luto, Melissa Marquez, Mina Mendaza, Samantha Nierras, Stephanie Pheasant, Desiree Saligao, Mallory Dayot, Chantal Esperanza, Angeline Impelido, Patrice Empelido, Ruchell Latap, Jeanet Mercado Officials Team manager: Ernie Nierras Head coach: Hans Smit Assistant coaches: Joel Villarino, Merlie Acibar, John Dilip Dinglasan

- GMANews.TV