Phl football gets massive boost

Philippine football got a major boost following the gallant performance of the national women's team in the FIFA Women's World Cup in New Zealand.
Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic said football in the Philippines is set to grow despite their 0-6 loss to former world champion Norway last Sunday at the Eden Park in Wellington.
The Filipinas ended their campaign at the bottom of Group A with a 1-0-2 win-loss record with their brightest moment coming last Tuesday when they shocked host country New Zealand with a 1-0 victory for their first World Cup triumph.
"I hope we have planted the seeds of the future generations wanting to become footballers. It is a good step but a lot of things have to happen to maintain it because we are starting from a million miles back in reality," Stajcic said.
"To bring football to life in the Philippines is a moment in history and one that you can't turn back from following football, following women's sport, unheard of and unprecedented."
Stajcic, 49, also praised his players who stood their ground against foes who are ranked higher than them in the International Football Federation.
The Philippines is currently 46th in the latest FIFA rankings with Norway at No. 12, Switzerland at No. 20 and New Zealand at No. 26.
"These players have really left their mark and left a legacy for future generations to come. For me, you can't ask anything more as a coach. They gave everything they have on the field and today, we were outclassed by a better opponent. That's just the way it goes in football sometimes," Stajcic said.
"They fought to the end. From that perspective, it has been an amazing World Cup. The players have punched so far above their weight."
The journey to the World Cup has been a long road for the Filipinas.
After securing a spot in the biggest football spectacle last year, the national team went to work as they played against higher-ranked teams in the buildup for the World Cup.
