PFL returns with Copa Paulino Alcantara in April

 Following the success of the 2020 Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways, the 2021 season will kick off with the Copa Paulino Alcantara scheduled for April 2021 subject to the health and safety protocols set forth by the Philippine government.

The announcement was made during the PFL 2021 virtual season kick-off featuring five of the six participating clubs. The staging of the Copa Paulino Alcantara prior to the start of the league will allow clubs to ease in to the competition with several international tournaments also lined up for the year such as the AFC Champions League, AFC Cup, and the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

The five clubs expressed optimism on the restart of the league as it will allow them to gradually get in to fitness in once the league gets a green light to start.

“The earlier we can start (with competitive football), the better,” said United City FC CEO Eric Gottschalk.

“We’re all one here in wanting to play sooner rather than later,” said Kaya general manager Paul Tolentino. “The right setup must be agreed by all the stakeholders and having the Cup will allow us more preparation and active competition.”

The club managers also bared their plans for the season focusing on youth development and developing a sustainable program.

“We were very happy with how we performed last season,” bared Maharlika Manila FC owner Anton del Rosario. “For this upcoming season, we want to focus on building a foundation in order to have a sustainable team in the future.”

“We want to contribute to Philippine football by focusing on youth development,” furthered Mendiola FC’s Karl Tan. “The league is the biggest stage for these young talents, especially coming from the provinces.”

To further spark the growth of the league, the clubs have decided to conduct a joint tryout within the coming weeks. The joint tryouts will allow the clubs to gather all aspiring players together and scout for fresh talent.

“Each coach will have an approach to see the players,” said Stallion Laguna FC head coach Ernie Nierras. “It’s going to be a short window for the tryouts and we’re trying to show the fans and the players that we have the teams working together to make this league better.”

https://pfl.org.ph/pfl-returns-copa-paulino-alcantara-april/

United starts rebuilding program

 

By 

Ian Suyu 

The departure of key players to the Thai League and Malaysian Super League has left United City FC (UCFC) without a choice but to beef up its lineup for the fifth season of the Philippine Football League (PFL), UCFC skipper and assistant coach Stephan Schrock admitted yesterday.

Those who have opted to seek greener pastures include midfielders OJ Porteria and Manny Ott and Dennis Villanueva.

The Filipino-German Ott inked a deal with Melaka United FC in Malaysia while Porteria and Villanueva hooked up with Ratchaburi FC and Nakhon Ratchasima FC in Thailand.

The recruitment of new platers is aimed towards the team’s stint in the AFC Champions League in March.

“The management and coaching are in talks, everything is set to add some new faces,” said Schrock, who bagged the PFL Golden Ball award last season.

“Obviously they are great players. Good persons and outstanding characters. It will be a challenge to replace them.”

The exodus of the three only should give the others to rise to the occasion.

Still, UCFC still has a lethal offensive combination led by Schrock, going alongside club’s all-time scorer Bienvenido Maranon and stalwarts Robert Lopez Mendy and Hikaru Menigishi.
“This gives other players the signal to step up their game. We are still hungry for the trophy.”

“Now we wanna win our fifth championship, and we will win it again. Historical things will happen this 2021,” Schrock added.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/01/10/united-starts-rebuilding-program/

PFL mulls expansion

 The Philippine Football League (PFL) is flirting with the idea of expanding as two new teams expressed willingness to join in its fifth season in May.

PFL commissioner Coco Torre said the two new clubs had already approached them to inquire about the possibility of joining following their successful bubble tournament last year.

Torre refused to identify the clubs, but stressed that talks are tipped to shift to higher gear in the coming days.

“There are clubs who already approached us, saying that they want to join the PFL,” Torre said.

“Over the break, I’ve been talking to them. They want to join us this coming season.”

The PFL may only be entering its fifth season, but is already drawing a lot of attention from sponsors and potential team owners.

Last season, it welcomed the application of Maharlika Manila FC as well as the Azkals Development Team (ADT) of noted football patron Dan Palami.

The Philippine Football League (PFL) is flirting with the idea of expanding as two new teams expressed willingness to join in its fifth season in May.

PFL commissioner Coco Torre said the two new clubs had already approached them to inquire about the possibility of joining following their successful bubble tournament last year.

Torre refused to identify the clubs, but stressed that talks are tipped to shift to higher gear in the coming days.

“There are clubs who already approached us, saying that they want to join the PFL,” Torre said.

“Over the break, I’ve been talking to them. They want to join us this coming season.”

The PFL may only be entering its fifth season, but is already drawing a lot of attention from sponsors and potential team owners.

Last season, it welcomed the application of Maharlika Manila FC as well as the Azkals Development Team (ADT) of noted football patron Dan Palami.

Torre said their continuous expansion is such a major boost to their stability as one of the professional leagues in the country.

“We are looking to have an expansion program in the PFL in which we allow infant clubs to come in and grow within the league,” Torre said.

“I told them that I will make sure that it will become doable for them similar to what we did with Maharlika FC.”

If the two new clubs successfully make it, the PFL will have a record of eight competing teams bannered by four-time champion United City FC and other mainstays such as Kaya Iloilo FC, Stallion Laguna FC, Mendiola FC, Maharlika and ADT.

“It’s more of a developmental approach. It’s a good program and a lot of it is tied to club education,” Torre said.

“They don’t need to be a big club to achieve it now. But we’ll make sure that they will eventually achieve it and grow with us.”

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/01/05/pfl-mulls-expansion/?fbclid=IwAR3PIJM86KffJOgv9YFjp-CEId6grBlDekWMLz8xukk0BHO4OL4S63k9s6s

Ex Azkals coach Goran Milojevic resigns as coach for Serbian club

 Ex Azkals coach Goran Milojevic has resigned as coach for Serbian club Backa after few weeks .

De Murga signs for Terengganu FC

 KUALA TERENGGANU (29 Dec 2020) – Philippines international defender Carli de Murga has been unveiled as the latest signing for Terengganu FC for the new Malaysia Super League season 2021.

“Murga has been signed on a year’s contract and where he will fill the ASEAN slot in the team left vacant by Singapore’s Muhammad Faris Ramli, whose contract has not been renewed,” stated TFC.

After several years in Spain, De Murga signed for Philippines side Global FC in 2012 before moving on to play for Ceres-Negros FC in 2014.

In 2020, the 32-year-old then signed for Chonburi FC in the Thai League 1 prior to his signing with Terengganu FC.

https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/de-murga-signs-for-terengganu-fc/

Porteria, Dizon set to play for Ratchaburi in Thai league

 By Jeremiah Sevilla

Philippine Azkals standouts OJ Porteria and Curt Dizon got signed by Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC recently for the 2020-2021 Thai League 1.

Ratchaburi said in a statement posted on Facebook that it secured the services of wingers Porteria and Dizon as Asean quotas for the second leg of the domestic top division set to kick off this coming weekend.

The two PH national team mainstays, both 26, have been practicing for “The Dragons” since Tuesday.

“Blessed to announce that I’ve signed a three-year deal with Ratchaburi FC! I’m looking forward to start playing with my new teammates and excited to compete in the Thai League,” said Porteria in a Facebook post.

“Thank you to the club for believing in me and to everyone behind the scenes for making this move possible. Let’s finish this season strong! Come on Dragons!” he added.

Dizon is raring to see action as well, saying through Instagram: “What a year it has been for everyone, but I’m blessed for this opportunity to do what I love with Ratchaburi and excited for this new challenge.”

With the hiring of Porteria and Dizon along with South Korean defender Lee Jae-sung, Ratchaburi is seeking to improve its current position at No. 4 with 26 points on an 8-2-5 win-draw-loss record in the 16-team table. 

Porteria is coming off a fourth straight Philippines Football League championship after United City FC (formerly Ceres-Negros FC prior to the transfer of ownership) ruled the 2020 bubble season.

Dizon, a former Ceres stalwart, played for the Azkals Development Team which finished third in the latest PFL tilt.

Porteria and Dizon were among the Filipino booters who recently made their move to arguably the strongest league in Southeast Asia.

Porteria’s United City and national squad teammate Dennis Villanueva joined Nakhon Ratchasima while ADT standouts Jarvey Gayoso and Mar Diano went to Muangthong United. 

https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/24/porteria-dizon-set-to-play-for-ratchaburi-in-thai-league/

PH Women’s National Team Achieves Highest FIFA Ranking At No. 65

 The Philippines Women’s National Team gained its highest ever position at No. 65 in the latest FIFA Rankings released last 18 December 2020.

The FIFA Women’s World Ranking is the world governing body’s quarterly ranking system for women’s national teams.

The country’s previous best was at 67th last year on the back of two fourth placed finishes in the AFF Women’s Championship 2019 and the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The Philippine Women’s National Team also ranks No. 11 in Asia and third in the Southeast Asian region even without playing this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We congratulate the Women’s National Team for this achievement,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta, Jr. “The ranking is a reward for the hard work and sacrifices of the people involved in women’s football in the country especially the players and coaches and of course, the PFF Women’s Committee. Certainly, this is a clear indication that women’s football in the country is continuously improving. As much as we are proud of this achievement, this also serves as a challenge for the PFF to make sure that the women’s national team and women’s football in general is given the support and the platform to succeed.”

“Women’s football has been on a steady rise over the past few years,” noted PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes. “Much of the development in the women’s game is credited to the successes of the Women’s National Team, notably their fourth-place finish in both the AFF Women’s Championship and the 30th SEA Games last year. There are more opportunities in the pipeline for women’s football in the coming years which the PFF and the team will continue to explore with passion.”

https://pff.org.ph/2020/12/19/ph-womens-national-team-achieves-highest-fifa-ranking-at-no-65/

PFL targets May opening

 

By 

Ian Suyu 

Plans are afoot for the Philippine Football League (PFL) to proceed with its fifth season tentatively scheduled in May 2021.

Commissioner Coco Torre bared that the country’s top flight football league is determined to open in the second quarter of next year if all things go according to plan.

Torre said the situation early next year will decide whether the PFL will push through with its May date.

The PFL successfully staged a compressed bubble tournament two months ago and it cost P6 million to hold it given the circumstances relative to the pandemic.

“We are really hoping that vaccines will be produced early next year because it will provide a great help. The cost of having another bubble is really expensive,” Torre added.

“I must say that the last season was successful mainly because we prevented any transmission of the virus in the bubble. That’s the first thing that we were really prioritizing,” he added.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/12/14/pfl-targets-may-opening/?fbclid=IwAR3MKbxwrYWoFPRI_vyOSlklk29u9n57nmo23tUvNB2f3xvaffduJhImlzc