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After the necessary process of developing protocols and obtaining government authorization, the Philippine Football League (PFL) will finally kick off its fourth season on October 25 in a bubble at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
The stage is set for the league to maintain its competition under the bubble configuration that will see clubs hosted in Seda Nuvali and playing in a compressed season.
“I know this has been a long and tedious journey for all of us,” PFF President Mariano Araneta said during a press conference on Wednesday. “Hopefully we will have a successful league. We are doing it in the bubble league. I think everyone is ready and ready to play.”
“We are here thanks to the help of the national government, the clubs, and they, together with the league, are being pushed by the most important person in football, which is the fans,” said PFF Secretary General Atty. . Edwin Gastanes. “It’s a great investment for PFF and PFL, and we look forward to a successful fourth season of the PFL.”
Araneta thanked sponsor Qatar Airways and the six participating clubs for their cooperation as the league finally takes off after being shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PFF chief also expressed his gratitude to FIFA for their attendance and to the Games and Entertainment Board (GAB) for their efforts that allowed the 2020 PFL season to move forward.
“It was President Baham Mitra who really helped us start the club practice sessions,” Araneta said. “Now, we are about to start the season.”
Araneta also announced the partnership with One Play Sports as a digital content partner. He said the league is also finalizing an agreement to broadcast the games on the EXP TV cable channel.
Mitra praised the efforts of the PFF and PFL to ensure that protocols are in place to minimize the risk of COVID-19: “We are pleased to assist the PFL in their efforts to start the season.”
GAB security officer Kara Mallonga said the PFL went further in developing protocols.
“I would like to thank the PFF,” Mallonga said. “They were very compliant and went above and beyond. I would like to assure all PFL stakeholders that their leadership went beyond health standards.”
PFL Commissioner Coco Torre also announced the slight format change as the league enters a free-for-all competition with the team with the most points winning the crown.
“Initially, we announced a series of finals after the single-stage round-robin. But the teams met last Sunday, they were discussing key factors such as player fatigue and physical condition given that for seven months, there was no football. in All. We decided to reduce the number of games to avoid long-term injuries, “said Torre.
Clubs will undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test on October 16 before entering the bubble at Seda Nuvali on October 21. Players and match officials will have another round of RT-PCR testing upon entering the hotel where they will be quarantined until the results arrive.
The league will have 15 games, where each club will play five games. The starting times are at 9 am, 4:30 pm and 8 pm
“We don’t want to play a lot of games in a compressed situation, that’s why we eliminated all three games to determine the league through qualification,” Torre said. “What is unique is that we are the only ones in a semi bubble and our kind of competition is centralized housed in a centralized place.”
The Azkals development team and Mendiola FC meet in the opening match at 9am. M. Followed by Stallion Laguna FC vs. Kaya FC-Iloilo at 4:30 pm. M.
The third match will be between newly formed club Maharlika Manila FC and defending champion United City FC at 8pm.