The 2021 Philippines Football League (known as The Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways for sponsorship reasons) was to be the fifth season of Philippines Football League (PFL), professional football league of the Philippines. However, the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cancellation The league's 2021 season was scheduled to kick off on August 21, 2021, but was postponed due to the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. It was postponed again for several times. The latest schedule for the season's start date was on October 27, 2021, provided that Cavite is under general community quarantine by October 16 and there are at least six confirmed participating clubs.
The 2021 season was canceled on October 22, 2021, and it was announced that the league cup tournament, 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara, would be held in its place. It will start on November 7, 2021. The organization of the Copa Paulino Alcantara was previously uncertain, having not been held during the previous season.
Stadium Carmona, CavitePFF National Training CenterCapacity: 1,200
Like previously, all games of 2021 season were planned to be held at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite, under a close-circuit format due to prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Biñan Football Stadium in Biñan, Laguna is being considered as a potential second venue.
Teams Cebu F.C. was given a provisional club license, which would have allowed the club to debut in the now canceled 2021 season. Laos and Rapids F.C. from Cagayan de Oro were the other applicant clubs.
Personnel and kits TeamHead coachCaptain Kit manufacturerSponsorsAzkals Development Team Scott Cooper Jarvey Gayoso KelmePHSD, Chooks-to-GoDynamic Herb Cebu Oliver Colina Evren Tasci RAD ApparelDynamic Herb Sports, The Green Table, Tigertek Sports, Pocari Sweat, My Pinoy Teleserye, Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc.Kaya–IloiloTBD Jovin Bedic LGRLBC, Fitness FirstMaharlika Manila Arvin Soliman Joaco Cañas Gameville SportswearPhilam Life, Reparil Ice-Spray, Arepa NootropicsMendiola 1991 Dan Padernal Ashley Flores FATPenson and Company, Focus Athletics, Mr. Swabber, Best Diagnostic CorporationStallion Laguna Ernest Nierras Ruben Doctora Cutz ApparelGiligan's Restaurant, Pi Tracer, Airlock389, TANIS, South Coast Industrial Door Inc.United City Jason Withe Stephan Schröck Chronos AthleticsManila Regenerative Center, Midas Magnesium, Gatorade, BCDA, Allianz
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointmentUnited City Trevor Morgan Undisclosed Undisclosed Jason Withe 31 March 2021Kaya–Iloilo Yu Hoshide Demoted to assistant manager Graham Harvey 10 June 2021Maharlika Manila Roxy Dorlas Undisclosed Arvin Soliman 30 July 2021Kaya–Iloilo Graham Harvey End of Contract 17 July 2021 Yu Hoshide October 2021 1. Named head coach for the 2020 season but was not able to coach the team. Withe was hired for the 2020 AFC Champions League due to having the appropriate pro coaching license to lead a club in the continental tournament. 1. Coached for the club at the 2020 AFC Champions League.
Foreign players A maximum of five foreigners are allowed per club, with four players of any nationality and a fifth coming from an AFC member nation. This is a change from the previous four seasons which followed the AFC's "3+1" rule. This resulted from an earlier press conference dubbed We Are PFL 2021, where managers of the clubs expressed a desire to increase the foreign quota from four to five.
Club Players Former Players Azkals Development Team colspan=5 align=center align=center Dynamic Herb Cebu Ricardo Sendra Joaco Cañas Kaya–Iloilo Patrick Asare Ryo Fujii Daizo Horikoshi Carlyle Mitchell Masanari Omura Emmanuel Osei Maharlika Manila Henri Bandeken Gary Epesso Serge Kaole Joaco Cañas Mendiola 1991 Daniel Ashley Hosni Dosso Hamed Hajimehdi Kim Minsu Dini Ouattara Stephen Appiah Stallion Laguna Kim Sungmin Abraham Placito Gabriel Silva Abou Sy Juan Trujillo Ibrahima Ndour Ricardo Sendra United City Jonny Campbell Jai Ingham Jung Da-hwon Bienvenido Marañón Takashi Odawara Robert Lopez Mendy Notes 1. Now a naturalized citizen of the Philippines. Sporting nationality change was subject to be confirmed by FIFA.
Foreign players by confederation AFC (3), (3), (1) CAF (2), (2), (1), (1), (1) CONCACAF (1), (1), (2) CONMEBOL (1), (1) OFC (1) UEFA (2)
References