Palacios happy to see young players train as Filipinas prepare for Asian Games

Ivan Suing·17 September 2023, 10:40 pm

Veteran Filipinas goalkeeper Inna Palacios is happy seeing more local players train with the team with the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China approaching.

Palacios, who was part of the national team since 2012, told DAILY TRIBUNE she is happy seeing young footballers training with them and getting to soak in all the experience of training under new head coach Mark Torcaso.

The Filipinas won their first match in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup last July in New Zealand and are now setting their sights on their Asiad campaign, which will begin on 22 September against Hong Kong at the Wenzhou Sports Center Stadium.

I think it's important to think of it as another way of learning new things and creating a new environment for all of us to grow and a healthy one as well.

"I'm happy to see more local players coming out and giving the national team a shot and the new coaching staff is open to that. And it's nice to be back home, having a training camp here and it's been so long and we definitely missed the feeling if having it here in Manila," Palacios said.

"It's nice to see the young blood, the next generation, catching up and also improving. They are the future so it's exciting to see them grow alongside myself and the veteran players."

Apart from Hong Kong, the Filipinas will be up against 32nd Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Myanmar and 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup runner-up South Korea in Group E.

Palacios said they need to be consistent in the Asiad now that their success in the Women's World Cup is in the history books

While FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised the Filipinas in its World Cup debut, she also said growing the game will require a lot more people helping out.

"You're only as good as your last game so we always want to see improvement and growth. It's important that we take in all those lessons and better ourselves every single time," Palacios said.