ON October 24, the Philippine Football League (PFL) returns in the form of a six-team tournament led by three-time defending champion United City Football Club, formerly known as Ceres-Negros Football Club.
I’m neither a football expert nor a soccer analyst, never was, never will be. I’ll leave all the preseason talk to those who’ve been around Philippine football for a very long time, but on paper, I see Kaya FC and the Laguna Stallions crowding UCFC at the top of the table if not keeping them busy.
It’s a short tournament so fitness, strength and conditioning will be very vital and crucial. The strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists plus the physiologists being very busy this competition will be an understatement.
The team that has a deep line-up with no drop off on talent on substitutions should emerge as league champions. It would also help if that team has an excellent training staff.
The margin for error in this tournament will be practically non-existent if not small. New players on each of the six teams will have a short learning curve to digest the manager’s system, tactics, strategies, substitution patterns and set pieces.
I think teams that have a mixture of youth and experience will do well. Especially teams that have national team players both former and current. In a short tournament like the one coming up, teams will need the locker room or changing room presence of veterans and also the gung-ho youthful enthusiastic attitude of the young players.
A team like the Azkals Development, made up of up and coming players like football wunderkind Carlo Dorin and Ateneo standout Jarvey Gayoso may rely on an aggressive and attacking strategy, taking advantage of their youth.
Honestly, I’ve never been this excited about Philippine football since the accomplishments and achievements of the Azkals.
We fervently hope that nobody gets infected and if everything goes well without a hitch then congratulations will be in order for the PFL and the Philippine Football Federation. The football bubble may be looked upon as a model for other bubble football tournament organizers to follow.