Third Season of PFF Women’s League set for weekend kickoff

Philippine Football Federation General-Secretary Atty. Ed Gastanes with some of the participants at the PFF Women's League.

The Philippines' top women's football tournament marks its third season this weekend, with the start of the PFF Women's League.

Organized and sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation, the PFF Women's League is comprised of ten teams competing in a double round-robin league format, with each side playing eighteen matches for a total of ninety fixtures that will run until December 2019.

PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes shares, "Women’s football continues its ascendancy in the country through our women national team and the PFF Women’s League. We thank FIFA for supporting the PFF in its women’s football development initiatives. We look forward to another thrilling third season of the PFF Women’s League."

Four of the five teams who participate in the UAAP are involved in the Women's League, led by defending champions La Salle and last season's runner-up in the league, UST. Season 81's losing finalist Far Eastern University and the University of the Philippines are also involved, with Ateneo de Manila opting to stay in the sidelines for this particular campaign.

Completing the cadre of teams involved in the third year running are notable women's club sides Green Archers United and Hiraya FC, the latter of which has tied up with PFL side Stallion Laguna.

Tuloy FC also returns after making their season debut, while serving as this year's newcomers are historic side Nomads FC, as well as and Maroons FC and Tigers FC.

Matches are currently being played at the PFF National Training Centre inside the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park in Carmona, Cavite, with the potential of future matches being played at certain schools in the future. All fixtures so far have been currently slated for weekend mornings, but the possibility exists that games could be played during weekdays.

Supported by FIFA through its Forward Programme, the PFF Women's League utilizes the MyPFF online registration system for all its players and coaches. It also serves as part of the preparations for the Senior Women's National Team for their upcoming competitions this year: the AFF Women's Championship this coming August in Chonburi, Thailand and the 30th Southeast Asian Games later the Philippines is hosting this year. Most of the players that comprise the national team pool are participating in the tournament.