MANILA – With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in the country uncertain, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) mulls canceling the Philippines Football League’s 2021 season (PFL).
PFL commissioner Coco Torre announced that the league’s officials will meet today to decide whether to continue with the 2021 season or cancel it entirely.
“Cancelling the 2021 PFL season is a possibility, especially if the COVID-19 cases do not slow down. Right now, we are hitting an average 20k cases per day, and it’s not a good indication,” Torre told Panay News.
“We will only play when it is safe since we put health and safety at the core of our principle,” he added.
The PFL 2021 season was originally scheduled to begin on Aug. 21 but was postponed by the PFF after the National Capital Region was placed under the enhanced community quarantine.
The PFF, therefore, agreed to reschedule the opening to Sept. 25, but the country’s current COVID-19 scenario rendered it impossible to conduct games.
Bannering the teams competing in the upcoming season were defending champions United City Football Club and 2020 PFL season runner-ups Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo, who were both fresh from their stints in the 2021 AFC Champions League.
The Azkals Developmental Team, Stallion-Laguna Football Club, Maharlika Manila Football Club, and Mendiola Football Club 1991 will return for the 2021 season.
There will also be newcomers in Dynamic Herb Cebu Football Club, which were given a provisional license by the league, while Laos Football Club and Rapids Football Club are still waiting for the PFL’s approval for their participation.
The PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite, is set to be the league’s primary venue, while the Binan Football Stadium in Binan, Laguna, is being eyed as another option./PN
