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Sports

PFL moves opening date due to COVID surge

Sports

PFL moves opening date due to COVID surge

By Jonas Terrado

The kickoff date of the Philippines Football League has been moved next month due to strict government restrictions caused by a surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The league’s fifth season was supposed to open this Saturday but the Philippine Football Federation decided to set a tentative date of Sept. 25 with NCR Plus currently under Enhanced Community Quarantine.

“The league prioritizes the health and safety of the players, coaching staff, match officials, sponsors, and other stakeholders involved in the organization of the matches,” the league said in a statement Monday, Aug. 16.

PFL officials had been busy securing the approval of clubs to hold training sessions at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

Six clubs from last season, namely defending champion United City, Kaya-lloilo, Azkals Development Team, Mendiola FC 1991, Stallion-Laguna and Maharlika-Manila, are scheduled to return for the PFL campaign with the possibility of adding new teams in the fold.

The PFF’s club licensing first instance body had been reviewing the applications of several clubs, including one based from Cebu.

In fact, the Cebu club announced recently the signing of several players in anticipation of its PFL entry.

United City and Kaya saw action in the group stage of the AFC Champions League from late-June to early-July, with both clubs suffering early exits.

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Philippines Football League

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