The Philippine Football League (PFL) is the top tournament of Philippine football, organized annually by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). With the participation of the top teams in the country, this tournament has become a top playground for football lovers in the Philippines. In this article, 2019 Southeast Asian Games will learn about the history, format and teams participating in the Philippine Football League.
What is the Philippine Football League?
The Philippine Football League (PFL) is the Philippines’ top professional football tournament, held since 2017. Previously, this tournament was called the United Football League (UFL) and was held since 2017. 2009 to 2016. However, after the PFF takeover and restructuring of the league, the UFL was renamed PFL.
With the participation of the top domestic football teams, PFL is considered the most competitive and professional football tournament in the Philippines. This tournament is not only an opportunity for teams to show off their talent, but also a place to develop Philippine football and bring this country’s football to new heights.
PFL, short for “Philippines Football League”, has become an important playground for top football teams in the Philippines. With the participation of prestigious clubs such as Ceres-Negros FC, Kaya FC-Iloilo, and many others, PFL not only attracts attention from domestic fans but also makes a strong impression on the world. international level.
PFL’s professionalism is not only shown through the way the tournament is organized but also through the way the teams prepare and compete. The fierce competition between football teams not only creates exciting matches but also promotes the improvement of the quality of football in the Philippines.
Not just a football tournament, PFL also plays an important role in developing football in the Philippines. By creating opportunities for outstanding young talents, PFL is contributing to building a strong football foundation for this country. At the same time, the development of PFL also brings opportunities for Philippine football to assert its position on the Asian and world football map.
With its importance and influence, PFL is not only the pride of Philippine football fans but also a clear testament to the development and progress of professional football in this country.
History of formation and development of the Philippine Football League
History begin
- Before becoming PFL, this tournament went through many changes in name and organization. Initially, the league was known as the “Philippine Premier League” and was held from 1997 to 2000. Then, in 2009, the league was restructured and renamed the United Football League (UFL) .
- From 2009 to 2016, UFL became the leading professional football league in the Philippines. However, due to a lack of funding and the ability to attract audiences, this tournament has gradually weakened and is no longer attractive as before.
Development process
- In 2016, PFF decided to take over and restructure this tournament. With the goal of creating a more professional and competitive league, PFF changed the name of the league to the Philippines Football League (PFL) and increased the number of participating teams to 8 teams.
- Since then, PFL has become the leading professional football tournament in the Philippines and attracted the attention of a large audience. Teams also have the conditions to invest in their squad and improve team quality, thereby increasing the competition level of the tournament.
Philippine Football League format
PFL is organized in a round-robin format, in which teams will face each other in two matches. Scores will be calculated based on the results of each match, with 3 points for victory, 1 point for draw and 0 points for defeat.
After the end of the round, teams will be ranked based on accumulated points. The team with the highest score will win the PFL championship. In addition, the second-ranked team will also have the opportunity to participate in the AFC Cup – an Asian football tournament for teams that cannot participate in the AFC Champions League.
Philippine Football League schedule
PFL usually takes place from March to December every year. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was postponed and only took place from October to December.
The 2021 and later seasons start in March and end in December. Matches will be held on weekends, usually on Saturdays and Sundays.
Philippine Football League rankings
PFL’s rankings are continuously updated on the tournament’s homepage. After each round, the rankings will be updated based on the teams’ accumulated points.
The teams with the highest points will be ranked higher in the rankings. If two teams have the same number of points, the team with the better goal difference will be ranked higher.
Teams participating in the Philippine Football League
Currently, PFL has 10 participating teams, including:
- Azkals Development Team
- Ceres–Negros
- Global Makati
- Green Archers United
- Kaya–Iloilo
- Maharlika Manila
- Mendiola
- Stallion Laguna
- United Cities
- Stallion Laguna
Among them, Ceres-Negros and Kaya-Iloilo are two famous teams and always compete for the championship of the tournament.
Prominent players of the Philippine Football League
PFL is a place for young Filipino players to have the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents. Many players who have played in PFL have been called up to the national team and contributed to the success of Philippine football.
Some prominent PFL players include:
Patrick Reichelt (Ceres-Negros): This German player has more than 50 caps for the Philippine national team and is one of the best players in the PFL.
Jovin Bedic (Kaya-Iloilo): With skilled technique and impressive scoring ability, Bedic is considered one of the top players in the PFL.
Bienvenido Marañón (United City): With 7 AFC Cup championship titles and 2 AFC Cup top scorer titles, Marañón is one of the most famous players of the PFL.
Records of the Philippine Football League
The PFL has seen many notable records throughout its existence. Some notable records include:
Most goals in a season: 34 goals (Bienvenido Marañón, United City, 2019 season)
Number of consecutive matches scored: 15 matches (Bienvenido Marañón, United City, from 2018 to 2019)
Most goals in a match: 6 goals (Bienvenido Marañón, United City vs Global Makati, 2019)
The influence of the Philippine Football League on Philippine football
PFL has had a great influence on Philippine football. This tournament has created opportunities for young players and helped develop football in the country. In addition, PFL also attracts the attention of investors and sponsors, thereby helping to improve the quality of the tournament.
With the success of PFL, Philippine football is gradually asserting its position in Southeast Asia and hopes to have more excellent players to bring Philippine football to new heights.
Conclude
The Philippine Football League is the Philippines’ top professional football tournament, held since 2017. With the participation of the top football teams in the country, PFL has become a top playground for football players. love football in the Philippines.
In this article, we learned about the history, format and teams participating in the Philippine Football League. We also took a look at the outstanding players and notable records of this tournament. Hopefully PFL will continue to grow and bring Philippine football to new heights.
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