Filipinas may bagong head coach

MANILA, Philippines — May bagong head coach na ang Filipinas matapos pangalanan ng Philippine Football Federation (PFF) ang beteranong si Mark Torcaso para manduhan ang programa ng national team.

Si Torcaso ang reigning A-League Women Coach of the Year na head coach ng Western United FC sa Melbourne.

Ito ang hahalili sa iniwang puwesto ni dating Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic na nagpasyang lumipat sa Perth Glory na naglalaro sa A-League men’s division.

Mainit na tinanggap ng PFF si Torcaso na inaasa­hang magtutuloy sa magandang nasimulan ni Stajcic.

“The Philippine Football Federation is delighted to announce the appointment of Australian coach Mark Torcaso as head coach of the Philippine Women’s National Team,” ayon sa statement ng PFF.

Nakipagkita na si Torcaso kina PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, general secretary Edwin Gastanes at team ma­nager Jefferson Cheng sa Sydney para maipormalisa ang lahat.

Kasama ni Torcaso sina Sinisha Cohadzic at Andrew Durante bilang assistant coaches.

“Watching the deve­lopment of the team over the last couple of years has been amazing, from the AFF Championship to the World Cup, and I feel honored to be able to try to continue this growth,” ani Torcaso.

Excited na si Torcaso na simulan ang bagong ha­mon sa kanyang c­oaching career.

“I am excited to take on this opportunity and I can’t wait to meet the players and the other staff in camp next week. I look forward to the challenge alongside Sinisha and Andrew,” pahayag ni Torcaso.

Galing ang Filipinas sa matagumpay na kam­panya sa katatapos na FIFA Women’s World Cup na ginanap sa New Zealand at Australia.

Naitarak ng Pilipinas ang unang panalo nito sa World Cup matapos pataubin ang New Zealand sa iskor na 1-0.