PASIG—Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta revealed that his organization is asking for financial help from the national government regarding the women's national team's preparations for the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Speaking at a special send-off event organized by the New Zealand and Australian Embassies in Makati on Thursday night, Araneta further bared that the PFF is asking for PHP 30 million from the Philippine Sports Commission, saying that the support they're currently getting from their sponsors is not enough.
"The support is there, but I still want some support from the government because up to now, even in our preparation, we haven't been getting the support that we need to get," Araneta said.
According to Araneta, funding for the Filipinas' World Cup stint would take at least US$3 million (around PHP168 million), and he believes the PSC can help the PFF financially just like how it contributed major monetary help in the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' hosting of the FIBA World Cup.
"Hopefully we'll get it soon because preparing for the Women's World Cup is no joke," Araneta further said. "I hope the Philippine government through the PSC can give us some funding for that because they have given PHP1 billion to basketball."
Araneta then said that the PFF has already reached out to the PSC, but at the moment, according to him, "We still haven't got any concrete answer from them."
According to PFF women's football head Belay Fernando-Dela Cruz, the Filipinas will begin their training camp on Saturday in Sydney, and they are expected to name the players who made the WWC pool within that time.
Friendlies are also scheduled as part of their tuneup with some happening during the July FIFA window.
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