AFTER tumultuous start of the professional game in the country, the Philippine Football League (PFL) had an inspiring take off last Saturday (May 25, 2019)
As expected the Copa Paulino Alcantara winner Kaya Iloilo FC whipped newbie Green Archers United FC 4-0, in the opening match while Stallion-Laguna FC survived 2018 League winner Ceres-Bacolod FC, 2-2, in a thrilling contest that treated the sizeable opening day crowd at the Rizal Memorial stadium in Manila.
Thanks to the efforts of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) for rescuing the professional game after the promising Philippine Premier League (PFL) failed to take off in its inaugural season last March.
With seven clubs joining which include three new clubs Philippine Air Force FC, Mediola FC and Green Archers United FC, plus Ceres-Bacolod FC, Global Makati FC, Kaya Iloilo FC, and Stallion Laguna FC, the hard core followers of the beautiful game are praying hard to make this league a success.
Three matches are scheduled on Wednesday with Stallion-Laguna FC hosting Kaya-Iloilo FC in Binan Laguna at 3:30 p.m. while PAF FC will debut against powerhouse Ceres-Bacolod FC at 4 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. Green Archers United FC will take on Global-Makati also at Rizal in the main game.
This is the third year of the PFL and the men running the PFF should have learned their lessons. Club owners have bled the past two years as running clubs need lots of money. As of the moment, the clubs are still thirsty for revenue streams. Hats off the the owners who are willing to bleed more just to make the professional game in the country running.
The hardcore fans are praying that the PFL should continue for many years to come for the sake of our young footballers.
The existence of the PFL is an inspiration for our young footballers to work hard so that they will have somewhere to go to ply their skills when they are ready to become professionals someday.
But the fans should not only pray hard. They should go and pay to watch matches, bring their families and friends. They should also support their teams, buy merchandise and if they are wealthy become a sponsor of their favourite club.
So far only Kaya-Iloilo , Ceres-Bacolod, Stallion-Laguna, Global-Makati have their own home cities they call their own. Newcomers PAL-FC, Mendiola FC and Green Archers United FC are still looking for their home cities to adopt.
PAF-FC want to make Cebu City as their own home city because of the connection of its main supporter Keith Buyco to the Queen City of the South. However, the playing venues of the city are not yet ready to host any PFL team.
The future of the professional game will really depend on the success of this season. The success of this season will also depend on how much the fans will support their clubs. Let us support our clubs and PFL for the future of the beautiful game in our country. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
