Sydney Pagador U18G ’97 Red Makes the Phillipines National Team

Posted On August 8, 2013 by PUSC

Sydney Pagador

“During the week of July 29-August 2, I tried out for the Philippines Women’s National Soccer team in Corona, CA. There were only about twenty-five girls at tryouts because most of the college players were either there the week before I came, or had reported back to college to prepare for their upcoming season. There was also a tryout going on in the Philippines for the team as well. From day one, the girls were very encouraging and hard working. It was one of the greatest experiences to play with other Filipino girls from around the U.S. and to know this tryout was not for a high school team, not for a club team, but for a National team. Unbelievable!

On August 3, 2013, I received an email stating I was invited to play in the AFF (Asian Futbol Federation) tournament with the Philippines Women’s National Soccer team, which will be held in Mandalay, Myanmar, September 10-22, 2013. In order for me to be on the team, I had to get dual citizenship to the Philippines. I will be training in Manila, Philippines, two weeks prior to this event. On September 10, the Philippines will be playing Indonesia; September 12th, the Philippines will play against Japan U23; September 14th, the Philippines will play against Myanmar; September 14th, the Philippines will play Laos. The Semifinals will be on September 20th and the final game on September 22nd.

I am so honored to play in this tournament. This is a great opportunity for me to play with people who have the same heritage as me and I am really looking forward to playing for the Philippines Women’s National Soccer team. I will be training as hard as I can for the next three weeks, preparing to do the best I can, so I can represent the Philippines country where my dad was born. I couldn’t have done this without the help of my coach, Ron Benjamin, and without the support of my family and friends.”

—Sydney Pagador