Sisters Milka and Mandy Romero are confident that the Solar Strikers will give other teams a good fight. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
From the heart of volleyball, the charming Romero sisters – Milka and Mandy – are bringing their act to the art of football.
The team co-owners formally announced their participation in the coming PFF Women’s League Wednesday, March 12, in a development that was warmly welcomed by football fans all over the country.
Sisters Milka and Mandy Romero are confident that the Solar Strikers will give other teams a good fight. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
This would mark the second foray of the Romeros in the country’s pro leagues, having one team in the Premier Volleyball League, a testament to their burning desire to help empower women through sports.
READ: Capital1 builds fighting squad for PFF debut
Hoping to provide the same intensity and power like its PVL team known as the Capital1 Solar Spikers, the football team will be carrying the Capital1 Solar Strikers banner.
Sisters Milka and Mandy Romero with the stakeholders and members of Solar Strikers. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
For Milka, the company’s decision to join the Women’s League was not a difficult one.
In fact, it’s some sort of full circle moment for her, having been with the Ateneo women’s football team as the co-team captain back in her college days.
“It has always been my dream to give back to the football community that helped shape me in the past 20 years of being an athlete I especially want to empower women in sports because ang daming talented athletes na kailangan lang ng right opportunity para mag-excel,” said Milka Romero during a well-attended press conference at Out Of Office Bar in BGC, Taguig City.
The press launch was graced by PFF President John Gutierrez and other sports officials.
“It’s time to help the next generation reach their dreams, and I’m excited to be part of that journey,” she added.
Mandy, youngest of the two sports-loving siblings, readily agreed.
“As we mark our first year in women’s volleyball with the Capital1 Solar Spikers, we are more committed than ever to expanding opportunities for Filipina athletes,” said Mandy Romero.
“That’s why we’re stepping into professional women’s football—not just to build a team, but to be part of the movement pushing women’s sports forward,” she added.
In hopes of getting off to a dream start, the Romeros also announced that multi-titled Far Eastern University coach Let Dimzon will be calling the shots for a team that will be a good mix of young and veterans.
For the locals, the former PH team coach is pinning her hopes on Judie Arevalo, Yasmin Elauria, Regine Rebosura and Hazel Lustan, and Lyka Teves.
The team, the Romeros said, will be reinforced by several top-notch foreign players as they intend to make their pro football debut worth remembering.
And they are Emma Young andArianna Del Moral.
Young is a standout defender for Mississippi College, reason why she was named the 2021 GSC Defensive Player of the Year and a United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American. A three-time First-Team All-GSC honoree, she made 80 appearances, playing over 6,000 minutes and earning multiple All-Region and Academic accolades.
Del Moral is also a welcome addition, what with her versatility at midfield plus a wealth of experience playing in both U.S. and Maltese football leagues. She has played for Minnesota Aurora, the University of Minnesota, and St. Cloud State.
Lustan, on the other hand, is a dynamic midfielder who earned a spot on the UAAP Season 79 Mythical Team in 2017 and was named PFF Women’s League Best Midfielder in 2018. She has represented the Philippines in international competitions, including the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and the 2024 ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship.
Teves is a deadly scorer out ofLa Salle, small wonder she emerged as one of the star strikers
in the 2023 PFF Women’s League. She was the proud owner of 18 goals and her contributions have been instrumental in DLSU’s competitive performances in recent seasons.
An exceptional goalkeeper, Elauria earned the Best Goalkeeper award in the 2023 PFF Women’s League, UAAP Season 87, and the United Womens Invitational Football League. Her contributions guarding the goal have helped FEU’s success in recent years.
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Given the passion and determination of the Romero sisters and the kind of players they have, expect the Capital1 Solar Strikers to provide the needed energy to make women’s football livelier and competitive.
