Another professional sports league in the Philippines can now begin games amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject to approval by the Inter-Agency Task Force, the Philippines Football League, sponsored by Qatar Airways, announced on Friday that it hopes to kickstart its 2020 season on October 24, at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
The league shall follow a full bubble setup similar to that of the Philippine Basketball Association’s 2020 Philippine Cup in Clark and Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3’s 2020 Presidents Cup in Calamba. The PFL’s version, though, shall see its teams and match officials housed at the Seda Nuvali hotel in Santa Rosa, Laguna, for the whole competition.
PFL Commissioner Coco Torre met with the league’s clubs to discuss the fine details of this season’s competition. All personnel are expected to fully comply with the bubble’s regulations, as they will only be allowed to leave Seda Hotel to train and compete in the PFF National Training Center.
Under the leadership of the Bacolod-native, the league is completing its rules and regulations, which shall then be presented to the relevant government agencies such as the Games and Amusement Board and the Department of Health. Meanwhile, a broadcasting deal to bring the games closer to local football fans is in the works.
When it comes to the competition’s format, each club shall play five matches each in a single round-robin. The top four teams in the standings shall then face off in the Finals Series.
The first gameday shall see the Azkals Development Team take on Mendiola FC at 4:30 PM. Stallion Laguna and Kaya FC-Iloilo then compete afterward at 8:30 PM.
The next day shall see Maharlika Manila FC go against United City FC at 5:00 PM.
