There's only one way Philippine football can move: forward

After the demise of Filipino football powerhouse Ceres Negros in July, it is easy to paint a picture of doom and gloom for Philippine football.

After all, the dissolution of Ceres Negros follows a long line of football clubs that have fallen by the wayside in recent years.

The Loyola Meralco Sparks, Davao Aguilas, JP Voltes and Ilocos United have all gone, while former champions Global FC’s license is currently suspended.

But to say that Philippine football is dying a slow and painful death may be an exaggeration.

After all, the Philippines just recently qualified for the first time ever to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the UAE, albeit finishing last in Group C.

Huge crowds in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Binan and Manila and in the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara final show that, while not exactly replicating the heights of the early UFL years, football is alive and not on life support as naysayers would trumpet.

And with Qatar Airways coming through with their sponsorship, the 2020 Philippine Football League is set to kick off on October 15, pending the green light from the IATF, with plans to stream the games live and with hopes of acquiring a TV partner.

When former champions Global’s license was revoked and the PFL in danger of going down to only five teams, former Azkal Anton del Rosario stepped up to the plate.

Sensing an opportunity to play at the highest level and using his contacts to great effect, Anton del Rosario founded Maharlika FC, the ‘People’s Club’.

The premise was tantalizing – a chance for veterans who have left the game to play with one another in the country’s top division once again.
One can imagine the calls that Anton would have had to make, and the responses he must have gotten.

“I wouldn't say it was difficult to ask (the players) because I know most were and still are down (to play),’ says del Rosario, “but it was commitment which was always the issue. I didn’t want to be another Global and forfeiting games because of no shows.”

The Maharlika FC story is certainly a very remarkable one in this time of Covid-19. With no salary initially for the players, it is a team that is forged through love and passion for the game first and foremost.

Anton succinctly summarizes Maharlika FC as the ‘Old School Dream Team’, with former national team players Misagh Bahadoran, Simon Greatwich, Jerry Barbaso and David Basa joined by former UFL stalwarts Joaco Canas, Cedric Hodreal and Serge Kaole, and heartthrob Daniel Matsunaga among others.

Former national team member and Global FC defender Roxy Dorlas will be the head coach in what is expected to be an exciting season for the newest addition to Philippine club football.

“(Our expectation is) to be a competitor in this upcoming PFL season,” says Dorlas. “Just like the other clubs, we want to earn that AFC slot and compete at an international level.”

“I constantly remind the team how blessed we are to be able to train and soon be back playing football at the highest level.”

There will always be doubters and cynics, and after the issues that have hounded the domestic league in recent times, it is certainly within their prerogative to do so.

Yet there is a palpable sense of direction, even hope, that however low that Philippine domestic football is experiencing at the moment, things can only look up.

‘The spike (in interest in Philippine football) we saw in 2010 was because of the massive win against Vietnam.’ explains PFL Commissioner Coco Torre.

“We rode the wave, but unfortunately waves do not last forever. So, do you wait for another wave or do you build a ship?”

Ship-building is indeed in progress as the six teams are now training under safety protocols in the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, and Circuit Blue Pitch in Makati, even if full-on scrimmages are not yet allowed.
The road back to the summit may be long and hard, but the important thing is moving in the correct direction.

“There are good things that we can pick up in the last decade from both the UFL and the PFL. With the benefit of hindsight, we also now understand the things that simply do not work in the Philippine setting.” he adds.

PFL Commissioner Coco Torre further expounds:

“The short-term plan is to stage the PFL 2020 even through a shortened season. The long-term plan is to grow the League through expansion of Clubs and even tapping collegiate teams.”

He also has a final appeal to all Filipino football fans: “Enough dwelling on what could have been. We have a fresh league which we are eager to develop.”
“We hope the football community can support us in this endeavor.” —JST, GMA News