Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 29) – The Philippines Football League is set to kick off its 2021 season on July 17, the league announced over the weekend.
The PFL was supposed to start with the Copa Paulino Alcantara from April to May this year, but the league decided to cancel the Cup in lieu of the rising COVID-19 cases in the country and the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
“We understand the situation the clubs are facing during these challenging times. With a scheduled kickoff date of 17 July, the clubs will be able to plan accordingly for another exciting PFL season,” said Philippine Football Federation secretary-general Atty. Edwin Gastanes.
PFL Commissioner Coco Torre said they are targeting to increase the number of games from 28 to 84 matches, and expand the league to eight teams.
“Last year, clubs were only able to play five matches in the bubble season. With the vaccine set to roll out this year, we look forward to giving the clubs more competitive matches to keep the players physically fit, which will benefit our clubs participating at the domestic level, international competitions, and our national team,” said Torre.
The PFF also expressed its intent to vaccinate players and officials before the start of the 2021 PFL season.
“The players are welcome to be vaccinated as it is protection with them. We’re giving them a choice as PFF will be spending for the vaccines. I’m confident that they will accept these vaccines,” said PFF president Nonong Araneta.
The July 17 kick-off date for the 2021 PFL season is also made in consideration of the Philippine Azkals’ campaign in the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers and PFL clubs Kaya FC-Iloilo and United City FC’s participation in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League play-off and group stage. Both international competitions are slated in June this year.
United City FC, formerly known as Ceres-Negros FC, bagged the 2020 PFL title which was played in a semi-bubble format at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite. Team members were billeted at the Seda Nuvali Hotel in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
