PFF to create national football league

MANILA, Philippines – With football enjoying rapid growth in the country, the Philippine Football Federation is seriously considering creating a national league.

The PFF, in coordination with the world and continental governing bodies FIFA and AFC, has launched a task force that will lay down the groundwork leading to the creation of a national league two to three years from now.

“This has been a dream for all of us who are passionate about football, to create a national professional league,” PFF president Nonong Araneta said during the launch at Shangri-La Makati on Monday.

The rose to prominence by the Philippine Azkals, now ranked the best team in Southeast Asia, has pushed the popularity of the world's beautiful game to an all-time high in the country.

“We have seen the renaissance of football in the last three years. And I hope it will continue in the years to come with the establishment of the national league,” said Araneta, who is a former national booter.

Dr. Bernardo Villegas has been designated as chairman of the Task Force. Villegas will work closely with Bonnie Ladrido (Finance), Dino Laurena(Marketing), Atty. Roland Tulay (Legal/Governance), Cyril Dofitas (Competitions), Randy Roxas (Clubs), Angelico Mercader (Communications), Flaviano Fucoy III (Other Concerns) as members and resource persons.

The presence of Roxas, who is one of the prime movers of the NCR-based United Football League, will ensure that there will be harmony between the two leagues. Likewise, Roxas noted that the UFL will prepare some of their existing clubs to be ready for the national league.

The task force's first move is to have a market study and hunt for the right person to man the league full time.

Villegas also noted that the emergence of low-cost flights and the roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) transport makes the logistics more economically feasible.

The task force is initially looking at 10 clubs (four each from Luzon and Visayas and two from Mindanao) tied up with cities and municipalities, which have long football tradition, to play in a home-and-away, point system format.

Meanwhile, FIFA and AFC have thrown full support and promised assistance in laying the league's structure.

"We have league and club management seminars, referee seminars to make sure of the league's success. But overall, it will be the ideas of the task force, which will make this league a reality. We're just here to provide assistance," said Winsor John, the AFC competitions director & deputy secretary general.

With all football sectors throwing support to the historic creation of a national league, Araneta is optimistic of its chances to become a reality.

"With their (Fifa, AFC) support, nothing can hinder us from making this dream a reality," Araneta added.

The AFC has presented Myanmar's national league as a case study for the task force, which will be busy in the next few months.