After months of inactivity and uncertainty, Philippines Football League teams resumed training sessions at the designated PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
But the biggest challenge apparently right now is not keeping the footballers in shape but training them in a pandemic environment and ensuring players and staff stay Covid-free.
So, as part of the league’s safety measures, the PFL held a medical meeting with the six participating clubs: United City FC, Kaya-Iloilo, Mendiola 1991, Stallion Laguna, the Azkals
Development Team and Maharlika FC.
On a Facebook post Monday, Sept. 7, the league said PFL medical officer Dr. Marc Castro, along with the coronavirus case management team, “discussed the necessary health and safety protocols and procedures teams must follow during training sessions and in the event that a player or staff gets infected with Covid-19.”
Officials from the Games and Amusements Board have also inspected the training venue to check whether health and safety protocols are being observed.
Players and staff also underwent swab tests for the virus.
At least three of the clubs—Kaya, United City and Stallion—have resumed training since the beginning of this month.
The start of the new season, though, has yet to be announced.
The PFL has been a mixed bag of good news and bad of late, but as a follower of Philippine club football, I’m just glad that the teams are back on the pitch doing the stuff they love and live for, while getting used to the new normal in these difficult and dangerous times.