PFF eyes SEAG for women’s team

MANILA, Philippines - With the 2017 Asean Women’s Championship called off, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) wants the Phl women’s team to compete in the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia instead.

According to PFF general-secretary Edwin Gastanes, the participants in the cancelled Asean ladies’ bootfest in Bangkok will make the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur their new battleground.

“We have officially sent the request to the POC-PSC SEA Games task force to include not only the men’s football team but also the women’s team (in the Philippine delegation),” Gastanes said.

The Asean Football Federation has cancelled the AFF Women’s Championship originally set May 26-June 4 to give way to other major women’s tournaments set this year, including the Aug. 19-31 SEAG.

“We had indicated our intention to join that tournament as always but because it’s very close to the schedule of the SEA Games, the AFF decided to defer it to 2018. So now I have to request the (SEAG) task force for the women’s team’s inclusion. It’s now under consideration,” said Gastanes.

The PFF has already registered 60 players, from whom the final 20 will be selected.