#PFL2021: Let's Kick It Up a Notch

The new Philippines Football League, brought to us by Qatar Airways, is just right around the corner. And unlike last year, where we weren't even sure if the league would even exist at all, we now have months to prepare.

And if that doesn't give them the chance to do better than last year, we're not sure what else they need.

The 2020 PFL season has certainly lived up to our expectations and has raised the bar beyond what the previous seasons had offered. And this was despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that made most of us thought would've been the end of our beloved league.

But no. Not only did we not lose the league, but we also got a league that was so action-packed, so fun, and so memorable that we even forgot that it was fighting for existence.

So how do you follow that up? How do you take something golden, and make it shinier, better, and gosh darn more exciting than the previous season?

We have a few feasible thoughts that might push it a bit further:

1. Fan Involvement

The previous season was definitely not short of fan engagement. From the half-time raffle to the fan guesting on PFL's own show, From Inside the Bubble. Fans were welcomed with open arms and invited to participate. So how do we step it up?

What about live fan reactions? A match poll for their man of the match? We can even do signed shirt raffles if the budget can accommodate. What's important is we, the fans, can be a part of as many processes before, during, and even after the match as possible.

We call this, fan involvement.

2. There's No Place Like Home

It was mentioned that we may be looking at another bubble setup. Considering the difficult circumstances, this is a-okay with most of us. Better safe than sorry. So how do we step it up?

If we can't bring games home, then let's bring our home to the games! We don't think that home support is only limited to games played in their locality. What about getting their respective LGUs on board? Word of mouth, projectors in courts (with social distancing guidelines being followed, of course), small ads in their localities shouting "Hey guys! Your very own team is playing for you, give 'em some love!".

I know that this idea is a bit far-fetched, but that's the challenge, isn't it? How can we get their own localities more involved here?

3. Hype that League Up!

We've heard of this before. And honestly, plenty of fans are still for this. But remember when the Azkals got the best hype up that propelled our local football scene to where it is now? What about when the UFL and AKTV teamed up to bring football to every Juan?

The marketing of the PFL last year was slightly better. Taking advantage of social media and pushing the brand even further. So how do we step it up?

Seeing their faces and names in major publications, television, even radio, can surely push the brand, and the game forward. Start hyping the league early because unlike last year, we can say with great certainty that we're gonna have a league this year.

The PFL and the PFF, I'm sure, have already been doing what they can. But if we are to overcome this fight for relevancy, we need to be relevant. We need to show them that Pinoy football is the next big thing!

4. More Coverage

This has been a challenge since the very first edition of the PFL. And it is honestly the most costly aspect of the league (if I'm not mistaken). But what they did last season was an epic improvement, and we didn't even have a strong TV presence.

I would like to laud Cedelf Tupas and his vision. That is how you show football in all its glory. From the near-perfect angles to the well-timed frames, this allowed us to see football as close to live as we can. So how do we step it up?

More angles, for sure. That goes without saying. But that in itself is a challenge with the limited resources. How about half-time and full-time analysis? We are already a basketball-loving nation, so we are no strangers to tactics. Have a team of talented people (ESBF is available 👌) to dissect the games, make it easy for everyone to digest, appreciate, and challenge the viewers to see football as how it should be. Not just boys kicking balls for 90 minutes, but a battle of wits, strengths, skills, and a little bit of luck.

Show them football as it is meant to be.

5. Clubs Galore

We've said it once, we'll say it again. More clubs mean more matches. Which means more drama, which means more action. With the addition of fine teams like the Azkals Development Team and Maharlika Manila FC, the league got spiced up a bit. And fans were definitely pleased with the new kids on the block. So how do we step it up?

Add more teams! Plain and simple. But we all know for a fact that it isn't just the league that decides who the teams are. The teams themselves need to decide if they want to join in on the fun.

So? Why don't we make it easier for them to join? We understand that the Asian Football Federation demands that the PFL holds a certain high standard in terms of the minimum requirements for teams. In that case, just as our current major sponsor has done for us, we might want to invest in nearly ready teams.

Eventually, when we reach a high level of competition and draw in more support from the common Juan, I'm sure that it'll come back to the league tenfold.

We know that some of these ideas look too much to ask. Some may even say that these ideas wouldn't be possible at all. But all we want is for football to take its rightful place as another relevant sport that the Filipinos can love, and that's certainly not a bad thing.

We all look forward to seeing how things are gonna be. I, for one, cannot wait for #PFL2021.

See you on the touchline.

Photo Credits: Philippines Football League