Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta and Philippines Football League commissioner Coco Torre announced on Tuesday that October is the target schedule for club competition to start this season.
This after Ceres Negros FC replacement United City FC and new addition Maharlika Manila, unveiled recently their respective roster.
United City retained the core Ceres-Negros while Maharlika will be bannered by former national team players such as Simon Greatwich, Jerry Barbaso, and Misagh Bahadoran with Roxy Dorlas as head coach.
Also confirmed to join Maharlikaare Cedric Hodreal, Enrique Ortiz, Julian del Valle, Manu Mariano, and foreign recruits Joaco Canas and Daniel Matsunaga.
The Anton del Rosario-owned Maharlika formalized their entry to the PFL this week after the league granted the club a provisional licence.
“I can officially say I’m an owner of a professional club!” del Rosario posted on the social media.
Maharlika Manila players and staff were scheduled for swab testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 yesterday. Those who would test negative for the virus can begin their training next week.
With Maharlika Manila officially joining the PFL, the league has met the minimum number of six clubs to start its season despite the sanction PFF gave to Global Makati.
The PFF slapped the embattled club with a 90-day suspension of its license due to unpaid salaries of its players and staff.
In a statement, the PFF said Global FC was also directed “to demonstrate within 90 days that its overdue payables to employees (have) been fully settled, deferred by mutual agreement by the creditor, or are subject to a not obviously unfounded dispute submitted to a competent authority.”
The PFF added that if Global Makati fails to settle the unpaid wages, its club license would be revoked.*
