A new chapter in local club football will unfold this year as the Philippine Premier League kicks off on March 30, with seven clubs participating (Ceres Negros, Kaya Iloilo, Stallion Laguna, United Makati, Philippine Air Force, Green Archers United, and Mendiola).
Headed by sports executive Bernie Sumayao, the league is regarded as a “reboot” for club football, following the short-lived existence of the Philippines Football League (PFL), which only lasted two seasons.
With the local club scene already in a tattered state, it is deemed crucial for the PPL to be a stabilizing force to revalitize football in the country.
On this edition of the Huddle, our writers share their thoughts regarding the upcoming PPL season and what they think needs to be done for the league to stabilize and succeed in the long run.
-Your thoughts on the participating clubs?
Ced Seredrica (Pinoyfootball editor): On this matter, they fell short of their promise of 8 clubs.
John Rabelas (Pinoyfootball writer): It’s almost the same old clubs from last year’s league. I’m glad to see Air Force back in the top-flight, though.
Kent Garcia (Pinoyfootball writer): The initial announcement to the fans is 8 clubs that are joining, but 7 clubs is not bad.
Jeffrey Gumawid (Pinoyfootball editor): On paper, it’s cannon fodder for the PFL holdovers and possibly GAU. I’m interested regarding PAF. Will they go professional like Thai Army clubs and Home United, or will they still use enlisted personnel? Because if they will be in the latter, it might result in forfeits like the UFL days.
Mark Del Valle (Pinoyfootball senior editor): Unfortunate to see only 7, although more came to show interest. For sure the league hashed through financials and team structures to see that 7 strong and competitive teams will be part of the league. It’s better than 0.
In the early run, what might differentiate the PPL from the PFL?
Ced: Well, we have a commissioner who actually engages with fans. We’ll see when the games start though.
John: Personally I hate being so cynical about it but so far, the league has shown me zero things that’ll get me excited. We’ll see once it all begins.
Kent: We have a commissioner that is passionate about the growth of the sport and they have secured a decent broadcast deal with Sports5.
Jeffrey: Based on the European football deal that he secured last year with ABS-CBN Sports, Bernie Sumayao knows how to hype. If he can generate a bigger hype than the first season of the PFL, the league has a fighting chance to sustain.
Mark: PPL has seen the PFL’s mishaps and see what can go wrong and also takes credit from what went right with UFL. The release of information to the masses is a good start in what Sumayao is pushing for a well operated professional league system in the country. It is sad to see that the games are now back to one venue, but by now, we know there was no decent financial pull from the PFL structure if you throw one team immediately to a place without building its national identity. Hopefully we see the clubs go back to playing across the regions in the future, once the league and its teams becomes more financially active.
What are things you think that the PPL should get right for it to succeed?
Ced: They should focus on fan engagement. Monetize everything. Make the league financially viable. With more money earned, it will result in more money to spend to improve the league.
John: The league management just has to look at all of the complaints and criticisms that the fans have put up in the last two years, and act on it.
Kent: They need to sustain the broadcast deal for media mileage. Do intensive marketing and engage with fans. It would also be helpful if they devise a mechanism that will entice more clubs to join, like affordable franchise fees and a salary cap.
Jeffrey: The league needs to live up to the promise, and listen to the fans. We all know the problems. At the same time, he needs to quickly hash the corporate structure of the league so that whoever heads it, it sustains. I really hope for a club-centric PBA model.
Mark: The financial viability of clubs should not be the clubs’ objective, but also, the league’s. The PFL failed because in terms of marketing and endorsements, they were all left out in the open. It looked like the league just took money from the clubs to let them do whatever they wanted to do. They should also take advantage of the fan base the PFL made. Teams were lost from Vigan to Davao, but doesn’t mean that the national fanbase towards the sport is gone. Take this opportunity to build brands identifiable by people, as it is with the PBA.
Any fearless forecasts on the league’s existence and future?
Ced: I give the league two years if things don’t work.
John: Hopefully, the league makes it work. We shall wait and see after 2 years.
Kent: The league should take its first three or four seasons as a stabilizing period
