FOR RICKY YANSON JR. (Right during the opening of the Mindanao Cup in Davao City last Month.) GRASSROOTS AND PROFESSIONAL GAME GO HAND IN HAND. A SUCCESSFUL GRASSROOTS PROGRAM WILL PRODUCE QUALITY PLAYERS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL GAME.
FANS and stakeholders of the country’s top tier football league, the Philippines Football League (PFL) need not to worry in case Ricky Yanson Jr. wins in the coming Philippine Football Federation (PFF) elections on Nov. 28.
The president of the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) who is running against incumbent president Nonong Araneta, has thrown his full support to the fledging league and wants the league to reach greater heights.
“I can feel the PFL can scale even greater heights with the support of all stakeholders. These should include more partners and sponsors and a good broadcast partnership,’’ he said.
He added that he will support the PFL and its member clubs and their players for their contributions to the sport we love. “I support the PFL because it brings joy to the football public and inspires the children and the youth to be better.’’
This is the first time that Ricky Yanson Jr. has released a statement on the PFL. Many PFL fans, clubs and workers have been worried of Ricky Yanson Jr. running as PFF president as his thrust is on grassroots development.
However, his announcement of his support for the PFL has dashed the speculations that he would not support the league.
He did not however go into details but sources who did not wish to be named said that more teams are lined-up to join the league if Ricky Yanson Jr. becomes president. The source added that there will be come backing teams the next season.
“Globally, professional leagues for both men and women give a path for the best players and for fans and resources to boost football popularity. I envision this for Philippine football that someday our men and women professional players will drive even more development for our beautiful game,’’ he said.
Ricky Yanson Jr.’s show of support for the professional game will definitely give a big boost to the PFL which almost did not push through this year after the PFF allowed another group to manage the league.
The group however failed to deliver their sponsorships and the TV coverage promises forcing the PFF to cancel its contract.
The league started in 2017 with eight clubs, Ceres Negros FC, Davao Aguilas FC, Global FC Cebu, Ilocos United, Kaya-Makati, Loyola Meralco Sparks, JPV Marikina, Ceres-Negros and Stallion Laguna. Ceres won the title.
By its second season in 2018, two clubs, Ilocos United and the Loyola Meralco Sparks folded up leaving the league with only six teams. Ceres again won the title.
Despite of the early troubles this year, the PFL has kept four of its original clubs Ceres FC-Negros, Global FC now Makati, Stallion FC Laguna, and Kaya FC now Iloilo.
Three new clubs were then welcomed led by the once mighty Philippine Airforce FC, Mendiola 1991 FC and Gren Archers United. Ceres Negros once again won the league title.
The PFL also introduce the Cup competition in 2018, the Copa Paulino Alcantara Cup in honor of the Philippines most prolific footballer in history, Paulino Alcantara.
Kayo FC Iloilo won the inaugural title. This year, the Copa Paulino Alcantara has six clubs after Global Makati has pulled out citing re-organisation of the club.
The Philippine U23 team, which is playing in the South East Asian Games this mont, replaced Global. Ceres-Negros FC and Kaya-Iloilo will play in the championship on Nov. 16 in Binan Laguna.
The vision of Ricky Yanson Jr. is to produce footballers good enough to play professional and then for the national team. His ‘Football Para Sa Lahat’ slogan is the way to make this vision a reality. (l.biantan@yahoo.com)
