Still without a passport, Pacheco stays in freezer
The much-anticipated debut of Maz Pacheco for the Plhilippine women’s football team will have to wait a bit longer after she was scratched in the match against Jordan late Saturday in the Pink Ladies Cup in Turkey.
Coach Mark Torcaso bared that the Aston Villa defender is still in the process of securing her Philippine passport before she can suit up for the Filipinas there and in future competitions.
Pacheco, however, is with the team for the pocket tournament in Antalya and is very much involved and happy at the Philippine camp.
“Maz’s passport is still in the process (of being acquired), but she’s committed to us and she’s excellent,” Torcaso said. “She’s [also] really excited and impressed with what we’ve been able to do.”
The inclusion of Pacheco to the Turkey camp has been met with a lot of excitement given her resume of playing defender for Villa in the Women’s Super League, England’s top-tier domestic women’s league.
Other new faces
The first time that the team got wind of Pacheco was when she sent feelers about her interest to play for the Philippines as early as last year, even traveling to New Zealand to watch the Filipinas compete in the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
“Maz provides our group with professionalism, experience and excitement. After talking to Maz she [was] very excited to come into camp and get into training,” said the Filipinas’ Aussie mentor.
The Filipinas have other new faces that could play in the match being held at press time, including Janae de Fazio of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current.
“We want to keep expanding our pool of players and allow everyone every chance to play for our national team in the future,” said Torcaso.
