PFF Women's League explained

PFF Women's League
Country:Philippines
Divisions:1
Teams:10
Levels:1
Domest Cup:PFF Women's Cup
Confed Cup:AFC Women's Champions League
Most Champs:De La Salle University (3 titles)
Champions:Kaya–Iloilo (1st title)
Tv:PFF TV

The PFF Women's League (PFFWL) is the top-flight of women's association football in the Philippines.

The league was launched by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) in 2014, with its first season held from 2016 to 2017. It has featured various women's teams including bona fide clubs and university teams.

History

To follow up with the PFF Women's Cup which was launched in 2014,[1] the PFF Women's League was launched on November 5, 2016, by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: Reyes. Jaelle Nevin. PFF Women's League kicks off Nov. 12. 6 November 2016. The Manila Times. 6 November 2016.
  2. News: Estrada. Kevin. PFF Launches Women's League with a record field. 6 November 2016. Dugout Philippines. 6 November 2016.
  3. News: Montayre. Mia. Historic PFF Women's League set to launch. https://web.archive.org/web/20161110072858/http://tiebreakertimes.com/tbt/historic-pff-womens-league-set-to-launch/70687. 10 November 2016. 18 September 2021. Tiebreaker Times. 7 November 2016.
  4. News: Kwek . Kimberly . Football: Rise of women's game in South-east Asia built on years of hard work . 27 February 2022 . Straits Times . 26 February 2022 . en.
  5. News: Montayre. Mia. PFFWL Roundup: Second round opening win virtually guarantees La Salle league title. 30 October 2017. Tiebreaker Times. 20 October 2017.
  6. News: PFF President Nonong Araneta reveals exciting times ahead for Philippine football . 18 July 2018 . ABS-CBN Sports . 18 July 2018 . 18 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205459/https://sports.abs-cbn.com/football/news/2018/07/18/araneta-reveals-exciting-times-ahead-philippine-football-44591 . dead .
  7. News: Montayre . Mia . PFF Women's League kicks off Season 2 . 25 August 2018 . Tiebreaker Times . 25 August 2018.
  8. News: PFF Women's League 2018 kicks off on August 25 . 24 August 2018 . Fox Sports Philippines . 24 August 2018.
  9. News: De La Salle Retains Title After Defeating UST, 2-1 . 11 November 2018 . Philippine Football Federation . 11 November 2018.
  10. News: Football: PFF looks to revive Women's League . 5 February 2022 . ABS-CBN News . 3 February 2022.
  11. News: Naredo . Camille . Football: PFF finalizing regulations for Women's League . 8 February 2022 . ABS-CBN News . 7 February 2022.
  12. News: Pedralvez . Bong . Filipinas train sights on Cambodia gold . 27 October 2022 . Malaya Business Insight . 26 October 2022.
  13. News: Naredo . Camille . PFF set to relaunch Women's League in November . 27 October 2022 . ABS-CBN News . 26 October 2022.
  14. News: PFF launches Women's Cup to reignite women's football development . 28 October 2022 . The Philippine Football Federation . 28 October 2022.
  15. News: Batallones . Jeck . Football: PFF kicks off new season of women's league . 22 June 2023 . ABS-CBN News . 22 June 2023.
  16. News: Coke backs PFF Women's League . 5 August 2023 . BusinessMirror . 30 July 2023.
  17. Web site: PFF: Int’l pocket tourneys for PMNT, home friendlies for PWNT . Philippine Football Federation . 15 July 2024 . 1 July 2024 . “There will definitely be a women’s league this year,” Gutierrez said. “We’re looking at two divisions for the women’s league. Rest assured that this is a priority for the Federation.
  18. News: Guerrero. Bob. PFF Women's League leads the charge for Pinay football. 16 December 2016. Rappler. 15 December 2016.
  19. News: Third season of the PFF Women's League kicks off July 27th . 26 July 2019 . ABS-CBN News . 26 July 2019.
  20. News: Karl Cedrick. Basco . FEU out to defend title in PFF Women's League . 22 June 2023 . ABS-CBN News . 22 June 2023.
  21. Web site: Neil . 2023-07-27 . Coca-Cola announces support for PFF Women's League 2023 . 2023-07-28 . BusinessWorld Online . en-US.
  22. News: Estrada. Kevin. OF FAMILIARITY and more | PFF, players and coaches hopeful on the Women's League launch|url=http://www.dugout.ph/2016/11/of-familiarity-pff-womens-league.html|access-date=6 November 2016|work=Dugout Philippines|date=6 November 2016}} The competition became the first to follow a league format following the folding of the Pinay Futbol League in 2013[2] and became the first women's domestic league in the country. The league sanctioned by PFF as an amateur league as part of FIFA's Women's Development Project for the Philippines.[3] Prior to the league's establishment, the primary competition for women's football in the Philippines was the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).[4]

    Most of the teams that are participating at the inaugural 2016–17 season were either from the UAAP or alumni teams. The PFF plans to hold a bigger amateur women's league to give more playing opportunities to collegiate players after they graduate from their respective universities and eventually professionalize the league so it can support itself. The league was launched to create a bigger pool for the Philippines women's national football team. De La Salle University were the champions of the inaugural season.[5]

    The PFF announced in July 2018 that a second season for the PFF Women's League will take place.[6] The second season followed a single round robin format instead of multiple round robin format used for the inaugural season.[7] This run was contested from August to November 2018. The league's players reportedly are compliant with the MyPFF online registration system of the Philippine Football Federation.[8] De La Salle retained the league title.[9]

    The league has not been held since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] [11] A new season for the league was planned to be held from November to December 2022 with eight teams.[12] [13] The PFF later clarified that it would be holding the PFF Women's Cup.[14]

    There is also a plan to rebrand and reorganize the PFF Women's League to a commercial league after the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

    The fourth season of the league was launched in June 2023.[15] The league would secure a major sponsor, Coca-Cola in July 2023.[16]

    Two divisions are planned for the 2024 season.[17]

    Teams

    11 teams entered in the inaugural edition. At least for the inaugural edition, participating teams paid a registration fee of .[18] Kaya withdrew mid-season. In the 2018 season, there were 10 teams with two being the new additional. The succeeding season retained a 10 team roster, with three teams from the previous season deciding not to enter.[19] Three teams would not play again but Manila Digger would join for the 2023 season. 2022 PFF Women's Cup debutants Azzurri also joins the league.[20]

    +2023 PFF Women's League teams
    Team First season Number of seasons
    1
    1st 4
    2nd 4
    2
    5th 2
    1
    8th 2
    6th 3
    3rd 4
    4th 4
    +Former teams
    Team First season Last season Number of seasons
    2
    1
    1
    3
    2
    Maroons 1
    1
    2
    1

    Winners

    SeasonDivision 1Division 2
    ChampionsRunners-upChampionsRunners-up
    2016–17De La Salle UniversityUniversity of Santo Tomascolspan=2 rowspan=3
    2018De La Salle UniversityUniversity of Santo Tomas
    2019–20De La Salle UniversityFar Eastern University
    2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
    2021
    2023Kaya–IloiloManila Diggercolspan=2
    2024To be determined

    Individual awards

    Most Valuable Player
    YearPlayerTeam
    2016–17 Sara CastañedaDe La Salle University
    2018 Chelo HodgesDe La Salle University
    2019–20 Anna Delos ReyesDe La Salle University
    2023 Shelah CadagKaya–Iloilo
    Best goalkeeper
    YearPlayerTeam
    2016–17 Inna PalaciosDe La Salle University
    2018 Natasha LacsonDe La Salle University
    2019–20 Kimberly PariñaFar Eastern University
    2023 Ayishatu SimpsonManila Digger
    Best defender
    YearPlayerTeam
    2016–17 Ivy LopezUniversity of Santo Tomas
    2018 Mariell TejadaDe La Salle University
    2019–20 Glyness Dela CruzDe La Salle University
    2023 Jonella AlbinoFar Eastern University
    Best Midfielder
    YearPlayerTeam
    2016–17 Charisa LemoranUniversity of Santo Tomas
    2018 Hazel LustanUniversity of Santo Tomas
    2019–20 Shelah CadagUniversity of Santo Tomas
    2023 Charisa LemoranKaya–Iloilo
    Golden boot
    YearPlayerGoalsTeam
    2016–17 Kyra Dimaandal21De La Salle University
    2018 Isabella Bandoja24Tuloy
    2019–20 Isabella Bandoja30Tuloy
    2023 Isabella Bandoja19Tuloy
    Angelica TevesDe La Salle University

    Sponsorship

    Major sponsors

    !Company!Period!Ref.
    Coca-Cola Philippines2023–present[21]

    References

    .