Ava Jolina Perez Villapando (born 8 May 2008) is a Toronto Ontario born Filipino-Canadian footballer who plays as a midfielder for the U17 Philippines Women's National Team and Ontario Soccer Association registered soccer club Mississauga Soccer Academy as captain of her 2008 Girls Elite Showcase team.[1][2]

Ava Villapando
Personal information
Full name Ava Jolina Perez Villapando
Date of birth (2008-05-08) 8 May 2008 (age 16)
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
MSA Rebels
Youth career
2019–2023 Supernova FC
2023– Mississauga Soccer Academy
International career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Philippines U-17 3 (0)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 May 2024

Early life

edit

Born in Toronto and raised in Brampton Ontario. Ava was Valedictorian and Female Athlete of the Year in her elementary school. Villapando currently attends St. Martin Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, where she plays for the Mustang varsity soccer team.[2] She also plays club soccer for MSA Rebels 2008 Girls as Captain of her team where they won 4 Ontario Cup Championships that qualified them to play in the Toyota National Canada Cup in 2023. They became Finalist of the tournament against Quebec 2008 girls in a 2–1 defeat. Ava notably ranked #16 Top 2008 Female players in Canada by FTF First Touch Football and was featured in all 3 games at the FTF Girls Top 60 Showcase.

International career

edit

2024 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup

edit

Villapando joined the U17 Philippines Women's National Team in January 2024.[3] In April 2024, the team trained in Manila before heading over to Bali, Indonesia for the 2024 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup.[4] She made her international debut on 6 May 2024 against Indonesia. Villapando's pinpoint assist pass to Alexa Pino in the sixth minute, set up the first goal for the Philippines to take the score to 1–0. The Philippines later won the match 6–1.[5][6] She featured in all three group stage matches during the tournament.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Ava Villapando". Soccer Way. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Ava Villapando '26 Recruiting Profile". Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  3. ^ "27 players have been invited to a training camp in the U.S. which will take place until January 31 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in California". Philippine WNT (X). 23 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Filipinas U17 head coach Sinisa Cohadzic summoned 30 players for the final training camp here in Manila ahead of next month's U17 Women's Asian Cup in Bali, Indonesia". Philippine WNT (X). 24 April 2024.
  5. ^ Olmin, Leyba (7 May 2024). "Filipinas U17 blast Indonesia 6-1 in Women's Asian Cup". BusinessWorld. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  6. ^ Camille, Naredo (6 May 2024). "Young Filipinas clobber Indonesia for winning start to U17 Asian Cup". Retrieved 2 September 2024.
edit