"Football is not a popular sports", but the AFC Asian Cup will be the greatest opportunity for Chinese Taipei to qualify for the 2023 Women's World Cup

The AFC Women's Asian Cup will be held in India from the 20th of this month. We spoke to Maiko Ohtomo, the goalkeeper coach of Chinese Taipei, who is participating in the Asian Cup for the first time in 14 years.

Japanese goal keeper coach, Maiko Ohtomo has been with the Chinese Taipei Women's National Team since 2019 Source: Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA)

Taiwan will return to AFC Women's Asia Cup for the first time in 14 years. 

Held in India from January 20 to February 6, the tournament  is also the final stage of Asian qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup (Australia and New Zealand). The 20th Cup for the first time, has been expanded from 8 teams to 12 teams, giving more chances to teams such as Taiwan to reach the final stage.

Japanese goal keeper coach, Maiko Ohtomo has been with the Chinese Taipei Women's National Team since 2019. She has been sent by Japan Football Association (JFA) as part of their program that aims to support the development of soccer in Asia. Together with Japanese head coach, Kazuo Echigo, she is hoping to bring home, tickets to the 2023 FIFA World Cup. 

However, Ms Ohtomo says that "football is not a popular sports" in Taiwan, and because the participation rate of women is so  low, the National players themselves "do not realize the value of representing their country".

"Its not hard to be part of the National team" she spoke to SBS Japanese.

"Even the parents of the players can be heard saying work is more important than representing the national team"

Ms Ohtomo says that she was shocked at the difference between women's soccer in Japan and Taiwan, and "realized how great the environment in Japan was"

Although the team is doing their best to prepare for the tournament, there is never a full team present at training due to other commitments like work and study.

However, in Taiwan, the AFC Women's Asia Cup is receiving some attention, as the "greatest chance to win the tickets to the World Cup".

"Even if we don't win the tournament, if we can qualify for the World Cup, we will be able to boost football in Taiwan"

Ms Ohotomo hopes that football players in Taiwan can experience the boost in women's football that she experienced when Japan won the world cup in 2011, and raise the bar of women's football in Asia.

 

The 2022 AFC Women's Asia Cup will be held from January 20 to February 6.

Chinese Taipei and China will play the opening match at D.Y Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

Australia's Matildas will play their opening match against Indonesia at the same stadium, while Nadeshiko Japan will play against Myanmar at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune.

For match schedule, check here.

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