THE PHILIPPINES have new darlings on the pitch.
They are sisters Olivia ‘Liv’ McDaniel (24) and Chandler ‘Cha’ McDaniel (23), both are now turning heads in the ongoing Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’a Cup in India.
They turn heads not only because of their pretty faces but also because of the skills they display on the pitch. They have helped lift the Filipinas to semis winning three matches, the last one against Chinese Taipei in the quarter finals.
The victory against Taipei earned a place for the Filipinas in the FIFA World Cup next year in Australia and New Zealand. The win also sent them to the semifinals against a very strong South Korean team Thursday (Feb. 3, 2022) afternoon.
The double feat sent the football community into football heaven as no one has every thought a Filipino team would qualify in the World Cup in their lifetime.
And the McDaniel sisters have become instant stars after their heads up performances all throughout the competition.
The Filipino nation would now remember forever how the older sister Liv sent everyone into frenzy when she saved two Taiwanese attempts during the regular penalty shootout.
She then sent the shootout into sudden death when she equalised the count with a calm deliveryof the ball to the back of the net when she accepted the responsibility to save the day for the Filipinas as the fifth penalty kicker.
Liv then wrapped up her heroics when she saved another Chinese Taipei attempt during the sudden death before Sarina Bolden’s strike sent the Philippine football community into football euphoria.
Liv’s younger sister Chandler not to be outdone, she shone brightly during their first match against Thailand when she scored the winning goal from outside the penalty spot. The win was the Filipinas first against Thailand, considered as the top women’s team in South East Asia.
The sisters according to their Californian father Clint McDaniel are very close. “They have the same values, they are very close, best of friends and have fun together growing up.’’
Liv and Cha also have similar set of skills. “Both strike the ball well, have good footworks and technique. They also have solid first touch and the basic skill set of an attacking midfield or forward type of a player,” Clint said.
However, there is one difference according to Clint, and that is, Liv hates running. “She was a striker at a younger age, a very good one actually but at about nine years old, she decided that goalkeeping was a better fit for her.”
Clint, is married to Filipina Lindy Isip. Her father is from San Fernando Pampanga and her mother whose surname Jabilles is from Davao. Her parents still live in Davao. Clint and Lindy met in college at the University of California San Barbara.
Clint is a typical football dad. He grew up into the sport and have coached for almost 30 years, ran a club in California and have coached and held various roles with the PWNFT.
But their association with the PWNFT started in 2012 when his wife Lindy connected with then coach Ernie Nierras. Clint said the girls have both been involved with the Olympic Development Program but were excited at the prospect of playing for a grassroots program.
“Being Filipinos gave them opportunities to grow the sport in a country where football had not “taken off” and that was inspiring,” Clint added.
Clint said that he met with coach Ernie and they had an immediate bond through their loved for their daughters and football. He then proceeded to help coach Ernie for the next 10 years or so running training camps in the US with other guys like Mark Mangune and Trey.
“Mark identified the players and they invited them into the camps and identified them for the national teams. This is where majority of this current national team group of players originated,’’ Clint added.
Clint and Lindy have two other younger children. Finn is 21. He plays professional football for Laguna Stallions and is also a member of the Philippine U23 team.
Their youngest child Declan is only eight years old and is in the 2nd grade. He plays midfielder.
Liv and Cha have graduated college from University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee where they enjoyed football scholarships. Liv started at the California State University in Fullerton in 2015 but transferred to Milwaukee in her sophomore year.
Cha on the other hand spent two seasons with Virginia Tech but moved to Milwaukee to be with her sister in 2018. They both finished their college education in 2020.
I can not remember any three siblings playing for the national football teams at the same time.
Clint and his wife must be very very happy. “I am delighted. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination. Their mom Lindy is specually proud that the kids have the oppurtunity to represent the Philippines. It is something that ties them to her culture and it is very special for her,” Clint added.
He said that for the three of his kids playing for the Philippine National teams is something that makes them so proud. “It is a validation of all the sacrifices our family has made throughout the years to make the dream of theirs happen.”
Advancing to the World Cup is special to his daughters specially that they were instrumental to their victories.
“It has been a long process for the girls but one that perhaps the Lord has a hand in the timing of everything. Now they have helped the Philippines make it to the World Cup. Wow. This is something that they all dreamed of as kids but for it to actually be happening is something amazing.”
At 3 p.m. of Feb. 3, the Filipinas will clash with South Korea in the semis of the AFC Women’s Cup.
Reaching the semis was an incredible feat for the girls. Playing against South Korea will be a tall order for the girls as the Koreans eliminated powerhouse Australia in the quarterfinals. The Australians drubbed the Filipinas in the elimination round 4-0.
For Clint and most football experts, South Korea is a solid team and an aggressive one. “ I would guess the game plan would be to stay patient, absord pressure, keep the defensive line clean and spring counter attacks as much as possible,” he said.
The Filipinas have already qualified for the World Cup next year in Australia/New Zealand. Beating South Korea would be not so easy. But if they stay focused then they could record another milestone, being the first Philippine National football team to make it to the finals.
With the McDaniel sisters Liv and Cha on top forms and the entire Filipino nation behind the Filipinas, a victory will not be that difficult.(jackbiantan@yahoo.com)
