'They're good enough': Chandler McDaniel defends homegrown football talent
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-American football talent Chandler McDaniel had nothing but good words for homegrown players here in the Philippines whom she plays with in the Philippine women's national football team.
Though most of the squad who helped the Filipina booters qualify to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup were based abroad, McDaniel had no doubt in the skills of players who were born and raised in the Philippines.
"I definitely think there are a lot of good players in the Philippines," McDaniel said during her and Olivia's episode on Philstar: Home Base.
"I mean, there were a few on the team this time and I know that this trip was [just] a little bit more difficult, even the Uzbekistan one just because it was so much harder for them to come to camp because I know that they were having some issues with travel and stuff because of COVID. So I mean, part of it this time was just out of control," she added.
Skipper Hali Long, who plays in the Philippines herself, actually revealed that some of the players who could've made it to the roster, like forward Shai del Campo, were unable to travel to the team's camp in Irvine, California.
The situation stymied a lot of Philippine born and bred players from making their impression to Australian coach Alen Stajcic.
Still, there was no shortage of Philippine-based players in the team.
"We do have good players. You have the Castaneda sisters, you have Inna [Palacios], Cam [Rodriguez]. I mean, they've been on the team forever so we know that they're good enough. If they weren't good enough, they definitely wouldn't be on the team," McDaniel said.
The Milwaukee Panthers alum also said that the players from the Philippines impressed even after a lengthy break from any form of football action due to COVID.
"Even in Uzbekistan, there were seven or eight of them who came in and they were good. And like I said, they were good and they haven't even been able to fully train because things were still locked down there," she said.
"There's still definitely good talent in the Philippines... I definitely think that there are good players who can contribute to the team and it'd be fun to meet some more of them," she added.
McDaniel is currently recovering from a major injury that will likely sideline her for the coming months.
Meanwhile, her sister Olivia is expected to be available for the team in the build up to the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
Next on the calendar for the Philippine women's national football team, who recently renewed coach Stajcic's contract, is the 31st Southeast Asian Games set in Hanoi.
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