The 2022–23 Philippines Football League was the fifth season of Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. This is the second season of the PFL under the sponsorship of Qatar Airways. The season started on August 7, 2022, and concluded in May 2023, marking the first time during the Philippines Football League era that a season takes place over two years. The league is contested by seven teams, the most since the 2019 season, which played each other four times during the season.
| Season | 2022–23 |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 7, 2022[1] – June 11, 2023 |
| Champions | Kaya–Iloilo 1st title |
| AFC Champions League | Kaya–Iloilo |
| AFC Cup | Dynamic Herb Cebu Stallion Laguna |
| Matches played | 84 |
| Goals scored | 283 (3.37 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Daizo Horikoshi (15 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Florencio Badelic Jr. Anthony Pinthus (4 clean sheets) |
| Biggest home win | Dynamic Herb Cebu 7–1 Mendiola 1991 (September 16) |
| Biggest away win | Mendiola 1991 0–7 Kaya–Iloilo (October 16) |
| Highest scoring | Dynamic Herb Cebu 7–1 Mendiola 1991 (September 16) Mendiola 1991 2–6 Dynamic Herb Cebu (September 24) |
| Longest winning run | Kaya–Iloilo (Feb 26 – Apr 14) (6 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Dynamic Herb Cebu (Aug 20 – May 24) (23 matches) |
| Longest winless run | Maharlika Manila (Aug 7 – Mar 4) (14 matches) |
| Longest losing run | United City (Nov 12 – June 11) (12 matches) |
| Highest attendance | 1,899 Kaya–Iloilo 2–1 United City (November 12) |
| Lowest attendance | 0 (behind closed doors) Stallion Laguna 2–0 Mendiola 1991 (August 8) |
← 2021 2024 → | |
The 2021 Philippines Football League season was planned to commence in late 2021 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[2] and was eventually replaced by the league cup tournament, the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara.[3] Marking a change in the format of the previous seasons, the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara was held before the league season, with United City emerging as first-time winners of the competition. The success of the Copa, as well as the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the return of fans, prompted the league season to resume in August.
The 2022 season saw the first time since 2019 that teams will play home and away. Several changes were witnessed in the league's system, such as the format changing from an intra-year to an inter-year format, with seasons spanning two years rather than one. After changing the foreigner restrictions in the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the league also increased its foreigner count from 3+1 to 5+1, adhering to the new AFC regulations. While all matches were held at the PFF National Training Center for the 2020 season, matches are played in the home stadiums of the PFL clubs for the 2022 season, with plans to allow fans back after the success of the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara. Dynamic Herb Cebu is the only new team competing for this season.
Kaya–Iloilo secured their first league title on May 24, 2023 with one match to spare.[4]
Sponsored by Qatar Airways, the competition is officially known as The 2022–23 Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways.
Format changes
editSince the league was last held in 2020, there have been several changes. All six teams of the 2020 season are set to compete, with Dynamic Herb Cebu being the new team joining after previously competing in the 2021 and 2022 editions of the Copa Paulino Alcantara. While the 2020 edition was held under closed-circuit format to limit the spread of COVID-19, this season marks the first time since 2019 that the league reverts to a home-and-away Round-robin tournament, with all teams playing each other 4 times, for a total of 24 matches.
Since the 2020 Philippines Football League, several clubs have undergone location changes. United City, who previously competed without a home city and stadium, will be temporarily based in Capas, Tarlac, while their stadium is under construction. After the 2022–23 season, they will rename to United Clark from United City. Maharlika Manila, who also competed without a home stadium but represented the city of Manila, will play their games at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The most noticeable change this season is the league changing its format for scheduling. Previously, the league followed the scheduling system of most Asian leagues such as the Singapore Premier League or Malaysia Super League. However, in 2022, the Asian Football Confederation changed its system of scheduling, shifting from an intra- to an inter-year system. Several leagues followed this, such as the Thai League 1, the Indonesia Liga 1, and the Indian Super League, prompting the PFL to switch to this format as well.
Teams
editAll 6 clubs from the previous PFL season are set to compete, with Maharlika Manila and United City competing for the first time in 2 years, having taken a break during the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara.[5][6][7] Dynamic Herb Cebu were given a provisional club license,[8] which would have allow the club to debut in the cancelled 2021 season, but due to the season's cancellation, 2022 was their first league season in the Philippine top flight.
Two potential new entries in the 2022 season were LAOS (Leyte Association of Organized Sports), who last competed in the 2016 United Football League, and new club Rapids F.C. from Cagayan de Oro.[9][10] The two clubs started their license application process at the same time as Dynamic Herb Cebu. However, the PFF approved Cebu's license while the other two clubs' licenses were still found lacking in requirements.[8] United City withdrew mid-season in February 2023. Azkal Development Team soon withdrew as well in May 2023.
Stadiums and locations
editSeveral of the teams have nominated venues as temporary home venues due to their home stadiums being under construction. United City is temporarily based in the New Clark City Athletics Stadium, while Mendiola 1991 is temporarily holding their home matches in the City of Imus Grandstand and Track Oval. United City plan to hold their future home matches in their "field of dreams" in Pampanga while Mendiola 1991 will build their stadium in Taytay, Rizal.
In February 2022, the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig was approved by the PFL as Maharlika Manila's home stadium.[11]
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Personnel and kits
editAs part of the criteria imposed by the sponsorship of Qatar Airways, each team's kit should contain the Qatar Airways logo where the manufacturer's logo would usually be.[13] The official logo of the PFL should also be placed on one of the sleeves of the kit.
| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azkals Development Team | 4Gives1, Chooks-to-Go2, PHSD4 | |||
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | WinZir1, Leylam2, Beko3, Tigertek Sports4, Pocari Sweat, The Green Table | |||
| Kaya–Iloilo | LBC1, Fitogether2, ICanServe4, Peakform, Pretty Huge | |||
| Maharlika Manila | AIA1, Reparil Ice-Spray2, Elan Vita3, Wheyl Nutrition, Kinetix Lab | |||
| Mendiola 1991 | Vill-Mell Trading, Jon Enterprises, Thunderbird Feed, Best Diagnostic | |||
| Stallion Laguna | Giligan's Restaurant1, Airlock3892, South Coast Industrial Door3, Pi Tracer | |||
| United City | Allianz1,[15] Gravity Sport3, Sportskred, Rsportz, BCDA, Klean Athlete |
Notes:
- ^ Located on the front of the shirt.
- ^ Located on the back of the shirt.
- ^ Located on the sleeves.
- ^ Located on the shorts.
Coaching changes
edit| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharlika Manila | End of contract | Undisclosed | Pre-season | February 20, 2022 | ||
| Mendiola 1991 | Personal Reasons | February 2022 | March 10, 2022[16] | |||
| Azkals Development Team | Undisclosed | January 2022 | March 11, 2022 | |||
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | Appointed by Philippines U23 | March 14, 2022[18] | March 18, 2022[20] | |||
| Azkals Development Team | Undisclosed | June 2022 | June 23, 2022[21] | |||
| Mendiola 1991 | Appointed by Philippines U17 | July 2022 | July 31, 2022[22] | |||
| United City | Demoted to assistant coach | September 17, 2022 | 2nd | September 19, 2022 | ||
| Maharlika Manila | Mutual consent | September 21, 2022 | 7th | September 22, 2022 | ||
| End of contract | Undisclosed | January 2023 | ||||
| Azkals Development Team | Demoted to assistant coach | February 2023 | 4th | February 25, 2023 |
Foreign players
editA 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.[24]
Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window. The window lasted from 1 January 2023 to 26 March 2023, with the initial deadline for registered squads set on February 9.[12]
| Club | Players | Former players1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azkals Development Team | Withdrew mid-season | ||||||
| Dynamic Herb Cebu |
|||||||
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||||||
| Maharlika Manila | |||||||
| Mendiola 1991[27] | |||||||
| Stallion Laguna | |||||||
| United City | Withdrew mid-season | ||||||
Notes
- 1.^ Former players only include players who left after the start of the 2022–23 season.
- 2.^ Jesse Curran was originally a citizen of Australia but was called up by the Philippines national football team to participate in the 2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series, while Simen Lyngbø was considered a Norwegian import until he played for the Philippines in the 2022 AFF Championship.[31][32]
| Foreign players by confederation | |
|---|---|
| AFC | |
| CAF | |
| CONCACAF | |
| UEFA | |
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaya–Iloilo (C) | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 70 | 20 | +50 | 55 | Qualification for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League |
| 2 | Dynamic Herb Cebu | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 52 | 23 | +29 | 51 | Qualification for the 2023–24 AFC Cup |
| 3 | Stallion Laguna | 22 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 39 | 26 | +13 | 35 | |
| — | United City | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 13 | +14 | 24 | Withdrew |
| — | Azkals Development Team[a] | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 26 | 39 | −13 | 21 | |
| 4 | Mendiola 1991 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 19 | 66 | −47 | 15 | |
| 5 | Maharlika Manila | 22 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 14 | 60 | −46 | 7 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal Difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
- ^ The Azkals Development Team were a guest team for the PFL and ineligible to qualify for AFC club competitions.
Positions by round
editResults by round
editResults
editThe seven clubs will play each other in two rounds of home and away matches. A total of 82 matches will be played.[34] United City withdrew mid-season in February 2023 and will not feature in the second round.
Season statistics
editScoring
editTop goalscorers
edit- As of May 23, 2023
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaya–Iloilo | 15 | |
| 2 | Kaya–Iloilo | 12 | |
| 3 | Dynamic Herb Cebu | 8 | |
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| 5 | Kaya–Iloilo | 7 | |
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | |||
| 7 | United City | 6 | |
| Mendiola 1991 | |||
| 9 | ADT | 5 | |
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | |||
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | |||
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| Stallion Laguna | |||
| United City |
Top assists
edit- As of May 27, 2023
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaya–Iloilo | 19 | |
| 2 | Dynamic Herb Cebu | 8 | |
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | |||
| 4 | Kaya–Iloilo | 7 | |
| 5 | Stallion Laguna | 6 | |
| United City | |||
| 7 | Dynamic Herb Cebu | 5 | |
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | |||
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| Stallion Laguna |
Own goals
edit- As of March 4, 2022
| Rank | Player | Club | Own goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United City | 1 | |
| Mendiola 1991 | |||
| Maharlika Manila |
Hat-tricks
edit- As of September 16, 2022
| Player | Club | Result | Against | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaya–Iloilo | 4–1 (H) | Maharlika Manila | 27 August 2022 | |
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | 7–1 (H) | Mendiola 1991 | 16 September 2022 |
- Note
(H) – Home ; (A) – Away
4 Player scored four goals
Clean sheets
edit- As of June 4, 2023
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United City Dynamic Herb Cebu |
4 | |
| United City | |||
| 3 | Stallion Laguna | 3 | |
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| Stallion Laguna | |||
| 7 | Mendiola 1991 | 2 | |
| Stallion Laguna | |||
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| ADT | |||
| Dynamic Herb Cebu |
Discipline
editRed cards
edit- As of June 11, 2023
| Rank | Player | Team | Red cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaya–Iloilo | 2 | |
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | |||
| 3 | Kaya–Iloilo | 1 | |
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| Mendiola 1991 | |||
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | |||
| Stallion Laguna | |||
| Stallion Laguna | |||
| Dynamic Herb Cebu | |||
| Kaya–Iloilo | |||
| Stallion Laguna | |||
| Mendiola 1991 | |||
| United City | |||
| Stallion Laguna |
Awards
editThe following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament.[37][38]
| Award | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Ball | Kaya-Iloilo | |
| Golden Boot | ||
| Golden Glove |
References
edit- ^ "Kaya FC-Iloilo 2-3 United City FC". kayafc.com. May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ "Copa Paulino Alcantara to usher in 2022 season". The Philippines Football League. October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^ Rosal, Glendale (October 22, 2021). "PFL to hold Copa Paulino Alcantara on Nov. 7 in Cavite". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (May 24, 2023). "Kaya FC-Iloilo bags first PFL season crown as Cebu FC falls short". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ "Maharlika Manila F.C. to skip Copa - Focus on PFL 2022 Season". Facebook. Maharlika Manila F.C. October 29, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Pedralvez, Manolo (October 24, 2021). "PFL Cup sees 6 teams participating; kickoff on Nov. 7". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (October 31, 2021). "Sudden United City FC pullout leaves Copa with only 5 clubs". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ a b del Carmen, Lorenzo (July 30, 2021). "PFF gives Cebu provisionary license; Laos given deadline to fulfill requirements". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ Suyu, Ian (February 11, 2021). "2 teams to join PFL". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Suyu, Ian (March 14, 2021). "PFL welcomes new team". Daily Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ "Clubs submit Team Roster form". The Philippines Football League. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "Clubs submit Team Roster form". pfl.org.ph. February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ "Qatar Airways to Sponsor the Philippines Football League". Qatar Airways. November 26, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ "MAHARLIKA MANILA FC AND EQUIPT STUDIOS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP". equiptstudios.com. Kaya FC-Iloilo. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ "United Clark, Allianz team up for PFL, ACL season". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "The ESBF Updates: Mendiola FC 1991". Eat Sleep Breathe Football. March 10, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (March 11, 2022). "PFF names Fegidero as head coach of Azkals SEAG team, Hall as director". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ Rosal, Dale (March 14, 2022). "Cebu Football Club takes on Mendiola FC 1991 on May 2". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "Hatayspor'da sürpriz Filipinler gelişmesi" (in Turkish). Fanatik. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Özgür, Koç (March 17, 2022). "Hatayspor'dan iki antrenör ve 3 futbolcu Filipinler Ligi'ne transfer oldu" (in Turkish). Ajansspor. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Cabatbat, Erel (June 23, 2022). "Schroecky's final third". Manila Standard. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ "Philippine Under-16 To See Action In AFF U16 Championship". pff.org.ph. July 31, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ^ Olivares, Rick. "Esteban is Maharlika Manila FC's new head coach". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Philippines Football League Season 2022-2023 kicks off". pfl.org.ph. August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "Hataylı futbolcular Filipinler'de top koşturacak" (in Turkish). 8GunHaber. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b "Kaya FC-Iloilo's 2021 Squad is Taking Shape – Kaya FC–Iloilo". Kaya F.C. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Mendiola '91 marks 30th anniversary with breakthrough". Tiebreaker Times. November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ "WTHAW EXCLUSIVE: Stallion-Laguna FC - Signings unveiled, Copa Paulino Alcantara, Coach Ernie Nierras". YouTube. Mendiola FC 1991. March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Terrado, Jonas (January 18, 2023). "PFL resumes next month with United hit by player exodus". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ a b "United City F.C. Team Roster 2022". United City Football Club. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Philippines MNT To Face Malaysia And Singapore In FAS Tri-Nations Series". Philippine Football Federation. March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ "SQUAD LIST, Here's our 25 man line-up for the Tri-Nations series that will be held in Singapore". Facebook. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ "Philippines Football League Season 2022-2023 kicks off". pfl.org.ph. August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Malanum, Jean (January 16, 2023). "PFL to resume in February". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Philippines Football League resumes February 2023". pfl.org.ph. January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "PFL Disciplinary Committee decisions". pfl.org.ph. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (May 28, 2023). "CDaizo Horikoshi named PFL Golden Ball winner". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ "Kaya thwarts Stallion, wins elusive PFL title". The Philippine Star. May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.