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| PFF officials with the eight PFL squads |
The first truly national and professional football league in the Philippines was officially unveiled in a formal ceremony last Friday at the Shangri-La at the Fort, with the first set of matches formalized via a draw.
Set to kick the league off on May 6 is the matchup between Kaya FC - Makati and Ceres-Negros FC at the University of Makati Football Stadium, which will be shown LIVE on the People's Television Network at 4pm. The other match pits Stallion Laguna FC against FC Meralco Manila at the Binan Football Stadium in Laguna.
The other LIVE matchup pits newcomers Ilocos United FC and Davao Aguilas FC at the Elpidio Quirino Stadium in Vigan on May 7, also at 4pm. JPV Marikina FC and Global Cebu FC complete the schedule for the initial slate of matches, as they are tentatively slated to play on the later match on that day.
Addressing the audience, Philippine Football Federation head Mariano "Nonong" Araneta says, "We are bringing the passion and the love for the Beautiful Game to different parts of the country with the PFL." He adds, "This is a dream come true for all of us involved in this project. We appreciate the time, effort, and resources put in by the clubs to make the PFL possible. We have taken the next step for Philippine football."
The PFL is the offshoot of almost four years of planning and organizing by the PFF Task Force, with the assistance of the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA. Singapore-based international sports marketing agency Red Card Media will assist in marketing the league. Said league will form the basis of participation in Asian continental football, particularly in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, which Global Cebu and Ceres-Negros are currently participating in group stage action.
PFF General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes adds, "This is truly an unprecedented endeavor. We are looking forward to a vibrant and exciting first season ahead for the PFL." He also expressed optimism of the success of the league, noting that "We pray all stakeholders: club owners, players, coaches, match officials, fans, and sports media, will all help to grow and nurture the league."
The PFL also has entered the social media realm, with an official Facebook and Twitter page.
— PFL 2017 (@PFL2017Official) April 21, 2017
Stay tuned for further details about the Philippines Football League.
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