Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has unveiled plans for a national football league that is slated to kick-off in March 2017.
The national league, aptly named the Philippines Football League, will be composed of at least six club teams, each representing a city or a region.
According to the PFF, the tournament is envisioned to have a home-and-away, double round robin format. The top four sides will proceed into a play-off to determine the champion.
To qualify for the league, interested clubs will have to comply with the PFF's Club Licensing Regulations to be qualified to participate in the league.
UFL still hoping to play a role
The establishment of the Philippines Football League means that the United Football League (UFL) will be stepping down as the country's premier competition.But UFL President Randy Roxas says that he hopes that the Metro Manila-based league will still have a role to play in developing the sport in the country.
"If there is a role for us to play for us still be involved in helping football in a second division format or in the youth, we leave that to the federation to work on," Roxas said.
The UFL currently hosts the country's biggest football clubs, which currently employs Philippine national team standouts such as the Younghusband brothers and Stephan Schrock.
There are no hard feelings for Roxas, who reminded the media that the UFL's authority comes from the PFF itself.
"You have to take note that our sanction comes from the federation," Roxas said. "Everything we do in the future will come from the sanction of the federation."
Research backed venture
According to the PFF, the decision to start the league is supported by a nationwide market research conducted in 2015.After interviewing 5,000 participants nationwide, a study by the Nielsens Company has identified key cities and reigions that could serve as an ideal starting home base for the clubs.
According to PFF General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes some of the factors considered include infrastructure, access, capacity of fans to pay, the existence of sponsors, and fan appreciation of the sport.
Here are locations identified by the research:
Luzon
- Manila
- Makati
- Quezon City
- Marikina
- Bocaue
- Pampanga
- Laguna
- Bacolod
- Cebu
- Iloilo
- Davao
- Cagayan de Oro
- Zamboanga City
Interested groups have until December to submit their PFF Club Licensing Regulations for the upcoming national league.
http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/09/06/PFF-bares-plans-philippines-national-football-league.html
perfect
ReplyDeleteSurely they can come up with a better league name than the generic "Philippines Foorball League".
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see where these teams will end up playing. I hope all these teams have "home" fields...
ReplyDeleteDumaguete should be included as they can meet the requirements for Club licensing..
ReplyDeleteThe timing of launching of national league much better under the new DU30 administration.
ReplyDeletei am expecting full government support due to similar vision of decentralization and regional federation.
mas mapapalakas ito sa dagdag na emergency power given to the President para isulong ang maraming infrastructure development.
it is a good news to reduce the authority of Imperial Manila as Premier sports league capital.
panahon ito to decentralized the status quo from all unitary commercial leagues to National leagues.
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ReplyDelete@joe alas all the teams that are planning to join the philippine national league are required to have a home stadium and there are many more requirements. you can check it in the pff website. it is in pdf form
ReplyDeleteGreen Archers will probably get Rizal Memorial. Can Loyola Meralco get the Ateneo football fields?
ReplyDeleteCan teams share fields?
@leo i think not. no sharing of fields but they can use fields owned by other groups as long as they have a formal/written permission to use it in the upcoming league season . their games are in round robin home and away format just like in the foreign leagues so it is very necessary for the clubs must have their own football field/stadium to play.
ReplyDeleteIf all parties agreed, Teams can share home stadiums. there's no FIFA guidelines saying that isn't possible. For example look at Lebanese Football League sometimes up to 3 Division 1 teams share 1 home stadium there
Deletebut a rule is a rule and it is mandated in pff. yeah it is more costly but it feels different when a professional team has it's own stadium. it means that it has it's own personal home and identity
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