OPINION: PFL expands to record 15 teams — but lopsided scores a necessary prelude to 'better league'

Philippine domestic football is back, and back with a vengeance.

No less than fifteen teams now comprise the Philippines Football League, the country’s top football division, and under a new PFF leadership, it looks to be stronger than ever.

Defending league and cup champions Kaya FC Iloilo remain to be the standard with which teams will be judged, but they will have no shortage of challengers for the league title.

Runners-up Cebu Football Club and Stallion Laguna are leading the chasing pack, but new teams One Taguig and the returning United City provide an interesting discussion as to who is the country’s best football club, which carries with it a prize of a slot in the 2024-25 AFC Asian Champions League 2 (ACL2) group stage.

Happening weekly at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, football remains to be the best value for money as far as sports entertainment is concerned, with a single match ticket allowing entrance to three games.

Matchday Media is the new content and business development partner of the league and they aim to provide football coverage tailored to the Filipino audience.

For the first time, there are pitchside reporters giving regular updates on the teams and players while the game is going on. Commentators are enjoined to be as inclusive as possible – giving technical analysis on the nuances of a 3-4-3 formation whilst at the same time giving explanations to the new football fan.

Of course, the coverage is only as good as the final product, and so far, the football on show has not lacked for action, most especially in the goal-scoring department.

Expanding to 15 teams will carry an element of risk in that the newer teams may have difficulty in meeting the standards of the more experienced teams, and in the first three weeks, that has certainly been the case.

A 7-0 thrashing by Stallion over newcomers Garelli United on Matchday 1 was followed by a 13-0 beatdown by Stallion two weeks later to similar newcomers Manila Montet.

The immediate reaction by some would have been that this uncompetitive scorelines are detrimental to the league, that fans will be turned off by the unbalanced scorelines.

League Commissioner Coco Torre emphasizes: “In line with our vision for a better league with more Clubs, the PFL needed to enter into an expansion phase where we get to assess the quality of interested Clubs both on and off the pitch.”

“In this stage, we actually anticipated lopsided scorelines, and this is exactly the data we need to determine which clubs would belong to the first division, and if it is feasible for a second division for the next season.”

“The first 3 match weeks have shown us the potential of some clubs who some may say are PFL material. Other clubs are still finding their footing and hopefully will show more as the league progresses.”

With 15 teams, there will not be a lack of opportunity for aspiring local players to show their wares, should they possess the requisite talent. Removing a quota on foreign players in the squad can only uplift the quality of the local players, even if there can only be a maximum of five foreign players on the field, excluding the goalkeeper.

For those who claim that there is no atmosphere in the stands, this has to be said: You bring your own sunshine, my friend.

I have had the distinct pleasure of watching Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge on a Boxing Day fixture, and I remember coming away with the distinct feeling of being severely underwhelmed by the fan atmosphere.

There are several jokes to be made here, not least because it IS Chelsea Football Club we are talking about here, but the point I am trying to make is that one doesn’t go to football grounds expecting the atmosphere to be there.

You, the fan, can make any atmosphere great.

In contrast, J-League crowds have to be right up there as far as excellent atmospheres are concerned.
Seeing the fans of Urawa Reds in Saitama Stadium, on a regular J-League match, cheer non-stop well before kickoff and well after the final whistle will stay with me.

The ultras brought drums and their voices, and came prepared with specific chants depending on what was happening on the field, and unlike perhaps in other countries, there was no hint of any potential violence.

It may be a long ways before we have the same level of fan culture here in the Philippines, but that doesn’t mean don’t have it.

The Ultras Kaya, the Lakeside Squad of Stallion and the Frente 17 of Loyola have led the way as far as fan culture is concerned. Fans of the other teams have followed suit. Join them.

Philippine domestic football is thriving, but it needs fan support. The league and the teams are doing their best, it is time for the fans to do our share.

Watch live or even online. Buy team merch (it’s available online too). And see you at the games!

—JMB, GMA Integrated News