PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go congratulated the Philippine National Women's Football team, Filipinas, for capturing their first and historic win in the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship after beating the Thailand War Elephants on Sunday, July 17, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“Congratulations, Filipinas team, for making history as the champion in the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation Women's Championship! Sa muli, pinatunayan ninyo ang angking galing ng mga atletang Pilipino!” expressed Go.
In front of an audience of over 8,000, Jessika Cowart and Katrina Guillou were able to score two goals during the first half before Sarina Bolden secured the country’s victory during the second half.
Go also expressed his gratitude towards the team’s manager Jeff Cheng and head coach Alen Stajcic for continuously motivating the Filipinas to always put their best foot forward that led the latter to capture their very first championship crown in this year’s AFF.
“Thank you for bringing honor to our country. Your win inspires your fellow Filipinos at the most opportune time when we are recovering from the pandemic as one resilient nation, as one proud people!” Go added.
The senator likewise assured his continued support to the team as they train and prepare for next year’s Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women’s World Cup that will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Go pledged that as the head of the Senate Committee on Sports, he will continue to promote and protect the welfare of Filipino athletes to ensure the betterment of the country’s sports sector. He also said that he will push for more sports facilities that athletes can use for their training and competitions.
“As chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, I reiterate my firm commitment to push for programs and legislations for grassroots and long-term sports development for our country to emerge as one of the sports powerhouses in Asia again,” he vowed.
Citing the need to integrate a more dynamic approach in molding Filipino athletes, Go recently pushed for the Philippine National Games (PNG) Act of 2022 that shall provide a structure for a more comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports promotion to national sports development.
Not to be confused with Palarong Pambansa, the PNG is a national multi-sport tournament that aims to widen the base talent identification and efficiently constitute the national pool to be trained for international sports competition.
The proposed measure seeks to ensure a more inclusive system of promoting promising Filipino athletes who possess potential in various fields of sports to be given an equal opportunity of becoming future contenders in international sporting competitions and cement the country’s status as a “Sports Powerhouse in Asia”.
The bill shall likewise address other Olympic and Asian Games sports, which have proven to give the country more medals in international competitions, but are not regularly included in Palarong Pambansa or any other sports programs in the country.
“I am one with President (Ferdinand) Marcos Jr. in highlighting the importance of sports in nation-building. I reiterate my firm commitment to always look after the welfare of our athletes and to push for long-term and grassroots sports development,” Go previously cited.
“These will both help our country become again as one of the sports powerhouses in Asia and also encourage our young people to stay away from illegal drugs and criminality by getting into sports,” he added.
The senator had earlier successfully pushed for Republic Act No. 11470 in 2020, establishing the National Academy of Sports (NAS) System and Main Campus in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. NAS is a government-run academy that aims to hone the country’s aspiring young athletes.
“Ngayon na meron nang National Academy of Sports, mabibigyan na ang mga kabataang atleta ng pagkakataon na mag-training at makapag-aral sa isang world-class na pasilidad at eskwelahan,” he explained. (OSBG)
