German sees bright future for women's football

MANILA, Philippines - There is a bright future for women’s football in the Philippines, a visiting German consultant from the International Football Federation’s Goal Project said yesterday.

“What I have witnessed so far is that you are not so far behind neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam, which have strong women’s football programs,” Monika Staab said in yesterday’s PSA forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila.

Staab, who used to be the head coach of the multi-titled Frankfurt women’s club from 1993-2004, was sent by FIFA to evaluate and give recommendations to the Philippine Football Federation to boost women’s soccer in the country.

But Staab, who will be in the country for two weeks, said she likes what she has seen so far in the way the sport is being promoted and popularized locally.

“You are far more advanced than the other countries I have been to. For example, Pakistan, which has a population of 130 million yet only has about 200 women playing football,” Staab said in the session backed by Shakey’s, Accel, Pagcor and Outlast Batteries.

Staab was at the Rizal High School last Monday to observe a football clinic conducted for its girl students “and there were some promising players out there.”