Filipinas mission: Annoy, frustrate foes

National women’s football team head coach Mark Torcaso wants his girls to stay aggressive when they compete in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Perth, Australia from 1 to 21 March.

The 44-year-old Torcaso stressed that he wants the Filipinas to frustrate their opponents as they gun for the top two spots in Group A, where they are bunched with South Korea, Iran and host Australia.

“We want to be the most competitive team, everyone. Any opponent that’s going to play us is going to find it difficult,” Torcaso told Australian broadcasting network SBS.

“We want them to get annoyed and frustrated.”

The Filipinas are currently in Balesin Island in Quezon Province as part of their month-long training camp for the prestigious continental event that serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

World Cup veterans Hali Long, Chandler and Olivia McDaniel, Katrina Guillou, and Sara Eggesvik will be leading the charge for the Filipinas, who will gun for their second straight World Cup appearance.

Star striker Sarina Bolden could make the final roster if she is game-ready after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury last year.