An evening game between Kaya FC and the Azkals Development Team will kick off football action this weekend in the Philippine Football Federation National Cup, also known as the Copa Paulino Alcantara.
The two teams are set to clash this Sunday at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite in a developmental tournament named after Filipino football legend Paulino Alcantara.
With lockdowns easing this week, the competition marks the return of football competition in the country, a year since the PFL staged its “bubble” tournament in 2020.
Officials of the PFF made assurances that the regular 2022 PFL season will push through in the first quarter next year.
“As much as we would have wanted to stage the (regular) PFL season, certain key conditions were not met, which forced us to defer the league season for next year,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta.
The Cup, which was originally set to see six clubs competing, will go on with five teams, after reigning PFL champion United City Football Club pulled out this week.
The five clubs that are competing are Stallion Laguna FC, Dynamic Herb Cebu FC, Kaya FC-Iloilo, Mendiola FC 1991, and the Azkals Development Team.
Group A will now have Stallions and newcomer Dynamic Herb of Cebu.
Playing in Group B are Kaya, Mendiola, and ADT.
The tournament will be done under a closed-circuit biomedical bubble.
“In its (regular season) place, the PFF will stage the Copa Paulino Alcantara. We are one with the fans who miss football being played in the country during this pandemic,” added Araneta.
Organizers are making sure they comply with the Department of Health-Philippine Sports Commission-Games and Amusements Board Joint Administrative Order 2021-0002.
The order requires clubs to arrange their own accommodation with provisions for health and safety protocols while inside their respective bubbles.