Philippines Football League
Season2024
DatesFebruary – TBD[1]
2025 →

The 2024 Philippines Football League will be the sixth season of Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. The PFL was previously under the sponsorship title of Qatar Airways. Kaya–Iloilo are the defending champions.

Format changes

Philippine Football Federation and Liga Futbol Inc. decided on shifting the season back to an intra-year format, starting in February. Due to the sudden withdrawals of Azkals Development Team and United City at the tail-end of the previous season, the league will be looking to increase number of teams from current 5 to a number ranging up to 16, the highest ever in the PFL.[1]

Every PFL season since 2018 consisted of a round-robin format after which the table topper would be crowned champions, but this season would mark the first change in the league format since 2017, with each team playing other twice before a second round would split the league table into two, where teams would play the teams in their bracket once more. After the conclusion of those matches, the top eight teams overall would advance to a final series consisting of two-legged quarter- and semi-final ties, after which a champion would be crowned in the final.

Though clubs may still play home and away matches, the league would also use a "hybrid home-and-away format", which will see more matches played at centralized venues to alleviate costs.[1]

Clubs

Five clubs from the previous season confirmed its participation, alongside former participants Davao Aguilas and Loyola (formerly competing as Meralco Manila) who expressed their commitment to the upcoming season in November and December 2023, respectively.[2][3] Don Bosco Garelli, a team that participated in the Copa, and Manila Montet also confirmed their participation in December. The league initially planned to expand to a number of 12 clubs and invited all the other non-UAAP sides, but due to the overwhelming demand plans are being made for a 16-member league instead.[4]

Stadiums and locations

The league will be played in a hybrid home and away format, with some clubs choosing to have temporary stadiums to cut down costs. Davao Aguilas, who are based in Tagum, are currently playing in the University of Makati Stadium. Manila Montet, who are based in Manila, have chosen Rizal Memorial Stadium as their home venue.[5] Don Bosco Garelli and Loyola, two more teams joining the league, have not announced their home stadiums yet.

On December 17, it was announced that Maharlika Manila would be moving their base of operations from the Rizal Memorial Stadium to the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig, having temporarily moved their in the second half of the 2022–23 season.

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Davao Aguilas Makati, Metro Manila University of Makati Stadium 3,295
Don Bosco Garelli To be announced
Dynamic Herb Cebu Talisay, Cebu Dynamic Herb Sports Complex 550
Kaya–Iloilo Iloilo City, Iloilo Iloilo Sports Complex 7,000
Loyola To be announced
Maharlika Manila Taguig, Metro Manila McKinley Hill Stadium 2,000
Manila Digger To be announced
Manila Montet Manila, Metro Manila Rizal Memorial Stadium 12,873
Mendiola 1991 Imus, Cavite City of Imus Grandstand and Track Oval 4,800
Stallion Laguna Biñan, Laguna Biñan Football Stadium 3,000

Personnel and kits

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Sponsors
Davao Aguilas (proposed) Philippines Aber Ruzgal Cameroon Serge Kaole Philippines Blaze Pacquiao 3 in 1 Coffee2, Healthy Tropics2, Blue Hydra4, Entrepro
Don Bosco Garelli (proposed)[6] Philippines Joel Villarino Philippines James Dorego Philippines Blaze Smokin' Hills1, Easy Franchise2, Bagwings4, Glowing Drugstore
Dynamic Herb Cebu United States Joshua Schirmer Philippines Nathanael Villanueva Philippines RAD Apparel WinZir1, Leylam2, Beko3, PlayerData4, Cebu Pacific, Pocari Sweat
Kaya–Iloilo Japan Yu Hoshide Philippines Jovin Bedic Indonesia RIORS LBC1, Fitogether2, ICanServe4, Peakform, Pretty Huge
Loyola (proposed) Philippines Roxy Dorlas Philippines Jethro Flores Philippines RAD Apparel Unioil1, Popeyes2
Maharlika Manila Philippines David Basa United States Tyler John United States Equipt Studios[7] AIA1, Palaro2, Elan Vita3, SportsPlus
Manila Digger (proposed)[8] Nigeria Lerche Njang Ghana Stephen Appiah Spain Kelme Hayatt House1
Manila Montet (proposed)[9] South Korea Jeongil Kim TBA TBA The Montet Group
Mendiola 1991 Vacant Philippines Jim Ashley Flores Philippines Ropa Best Diagnostic, Jon Enterprises, Thunderbird Feed, Vill-Mell Trading
Stallion Laguna Philippines Ernest Nierras Philippines Matthew Nierras Philippines Blaze Giligan's Restaurant1, Airlock3892, South Coast Industrial Door3, Pi Tracer

Notes:

  1. ^ Located on the front of the shirt.
  2. ^ Located on the back of the shirt.
  3. ^ Located on the sleeves.
  4. ^ Located on the shorts.

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment
Kaya–Iloilo Japan Yu Hoshide Demoted to assistant coach August 5, 2023 Pre-season Northern Ireland Colum Curtis August 5, 2023
Dynamic Herb Cebu Turkey Mehmet Kakil[10] Mutual Consent July 16, 2023 United States Joshua Schirmer August 9, 2023
Maharlika Manila Philippines Roxy Dorlas Appointed head coach of Loyola Philippines David Basa August 12, 2023
Don Bosco Garelli Philippines Ake Pastoral Undisclosed December 17, 2023 Philippines Joel Villarino December 17, 2023
Kaya–Iloilo Northern Ireland Colum Curtis Mutual Consent December 12, 2023 Japan Yu Hoshide January 13, 2024
Mendiola 1991 Philippines Joel Villarino Undisclosed December 17, 2023 TBD

Foreign players

A maximum of six foreigners are allowed per club, with five players of any nationality and a sixth coming from an AFC member nation. This is in line with the upcoming AFC regulations that allow for more foreigners to be signed by clubs. However, only 4 foreign players can be registered in the starting 11 during a matchday, with one of them being from an AFC member nation. A further two foreign substitutes may be placed on the bench.[11]

Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Players Former players1
Davao Aguilas Ivory Coast Yohann Fofana[12] Cameroon Serge Kaole[12] Ivory Coast Dosso Lancine[12] Ivory Coast Dini Ouattara[12]
Don Bosco Garelli South Africa Dylan Joseph
Dynamic Herb Cebu Turkey Arda Çınkır[13] Turkey Göktuğ Demiroğlu[14] Japan Rintaro Hama[15] Ivory Coast Marius Kore[16] Japan Ken Murayama[14] Japan Ryo Togashi[17]
Kaya–Iloilo Cameroon Henri Bandeken[18] Senegal Robert Lopez Mendy[19] Japan Akito Saito[20] Argentina Ricardo Sendra[21] Senegal Abou Sy[22] Japan Daizo Horikoshi[23]
Loyola Ivory Coast Franck Anoh[24]
Maharlika Manila Morocco Soufiane Bouazzaoui[25] The Gambia Ousman Jeng[25] United States Tyler John[25] Cameroon Boris Moundang[25] Senegal Ibrahima Ndour[25]
Manila Digger Ghana Stephen Appiah Ghana Daniel Ashley China Su Diao Nigeria Ifeanyi Ugwu Nigeria Ilemona Usman Senegal Alassane Wade
Manila Montet
Mendiola 1991[26] Iran Milad Behgandom[27] Lebanon Ali Ghamloush[27] Iran Hamed Hajimehdi[27] Cameroon Junior Ngong Sam[27]
Stallion Laguna United States Alfredo Cortez Japan Reo Nakamura[28] United States Abraham Placito[29] United States Julian Stifano Brazil Théo Mexico Juan Trujillo[30] United States Kraig Bonanken[31]
Argentina Cristian Ivanobski[32]
Japan Yuta Nomura[28][33]
  • ^1 Former players only include players who left after the start of the 2024 season.
  • ^2 Dynamic Herb Cebu and Stallion Laguna also registered other foreigners for international competitions:
Dynamic Herb Cebu: Ren Okuda Japan
Stallion Laguna: Abner Brazil
Foreign players by confederation
AFC China (1),  Iran (2),  Japan (4),  Lebanon (1)
CAF Cameroon (4),  Ghana (2),  Ivory Coast (5),  Morocco (1),  Nigeria (2),  Senegal (3),  South Africa (3),  The Gambia (1)
CONCACAF Mexico (1),  United States (4)
CONMEBOL Argentina (1),  Brazil (1)
UEFA Turkey (2)

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Loyola 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for 2021 AFC Champions League group stage and 2022 AFC Champions League group stage1
2 Kaya–Iloilo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for 2021 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs
3 Don Bosco Garelli 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Mendiola 1991 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Maharlika Manila 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Stallion Laguna2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Dynamic Herb Cebu2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Davao Aguilas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Manila Montet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Manila Digger 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: PFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.[34]

Positions by round

Results by round

Results

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

Hat-tricks

Clean sheets

Awards

These are the following awards that would be awarded after the season concludes.

Award Winner Club
Golden ball TBD
Golden boot
Golden glove

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Expanded Philippines Football League Season 2024 eyes February kickoff". pfl.org.ph. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Football Connection: November 9, 2023". DZSR on Facebook. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  3. ↑ "We are joining the Philippines Football League!". Loyola FC on Facebook. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ↑ Terrado, Jonas (December 11, 2023). "'Copa' success encourages PFL expansion". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Is Rizal Stadium Truly Outdated?". Manila Montet FC. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Club's new partnership formed with Glowing Drug Don Bosco - Garelli United FB". November 27, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  7. ↑ "MAHARLIKA MANILA FC AND EQUIPT STUDIOS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP". equiptstudios.com. Kaya FC-Iloilo. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  8. ↑ "PFL 2024 TRYOUT SCHEDULE". Manila Digger FC on Facebook. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ "MANILA MONTET FC IS JOINING THE PHILIPPINES FOOTBALL LEAGUE". Manila Montet FC FB. December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ https://www.goal.com/tr/haber/asya-yi-fetheden-turk-teknik-direktor-mehmet-kakil-teklif-bekliyor/blt8d49623068e16864
  11. ↑ "Philippines Football League Season 2022-2023 kicks off". pfl.org.ph. August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑: Davao Aguilas FC". Twitter. Philippines Football League on Twitter. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ Rosal, Glendale (August 17, 2023). "Cinkir and Uzoka return to Cebu FC for Copa Paulino Alcantara". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Cebu FC signs Çinkir, new players for Copa". SunStar Cebu. August 17, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  15. ↑ Aznar, Edri (February 16, 2023). "Cebu FC signs new players, plays against Kaya Feb. 19". Sunstar PH. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Meet your 'Gentle Giants' (Part 4 of 5)". Sunstar PH. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  17. ↑ "New-look Cebu FC faces UP in Copa Paulino Alcantara". SunStar Cebu. August 19, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  18. ↑ Suing, Ivan (August 9, 2023). "Kaya FC Ramps Up Roster". sports.tribune.net. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Kaya FC-Iloilo Welcomes Back Robert Lopez Mendy". Kaya F.C. January 27, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  20. ↑ Co, Adrian Stewart (August 12, 2023). "Kaya-Iloilo beefs up line-up, introduces 3 more new recruits". Panay News. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Welcome, Ricki Sendra". Kaya F.C.–IloIlo. August 9, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  22. ↑ Co, Adrian Stewart (August 11, 2023). "KAYA FC SIGNS 4 NEW PLAYERS, HIRES NEW HEAD COACH". Watchmen Daily Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Kaya FC-Iloilo's 2021 Squad is Taking Shape – Kaya FC–Iloilo". Kaya F.C. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  24. ↑ "𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐏: A quick look at the starters for today's match between Garelli United FC and Loyola FC". Twitter. Philippines Football League on Twitter. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑: Maharlika Manila FC". Twitter. Philippines Football League on Twitter. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Mendiola '91 marks 30th anniversary with breakthrough". Tiebreaker Times. November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑: Mendiola FC 1991". Twitter. Philippines Football League on Twitter. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  28. 1 2 "Introducing Stallion Laguna FC's newest signing, Reo Nakamura, a 33 year old defender!". Stallion Laguna Football Club Philippines on Facebook. August 13, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  29. ↑ "WTHAW EXCLUSIVE: Stallion-Laguna FC - Signings unveiled, Copa Paulino Alcantara, Coach Ernie Nierras". YouTube. Mendiola FC 1991. March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Juan Trujillo". Stallion Laguna Football Club on Facebook. April 11, 2022. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Welcome to Stallion, Kraig Bonanken". Stallion Laguna Football Club Philippines on Facebook. February 16, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  32. ↑ Malihan, Drew (October 9, 2023). "Copa: Ivanobski's brace lifts Stallion past Maharlika, 4-0". Dugout PH. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Introducing Stallion Laguna FC's newest signing, Yuta Nomura, a 25 year old striker!". Stallion Laguna Football Club Philippines on Facebook. August 13, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  34. ↑ "PFL 2020: A Sprint to the Finish". GMA News. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
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