The newly-formed Dynamic Herb Cebu Football Club continues to hope that the Philippine Football League (PFL) Season 2021 will still happen after the October 27 slated opening to be held at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite has been rescheduled yet again to the first week of November.
Head coach Oliver ‘BingBing’ Colina admitted it has been hard on the coaching staff and management to keep the entire team motivated as being able to play is something that the club has been looking forward to, especially as it is seen as a road to normalcy with the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.
“I feel bad for the players because they are all down, motivation is low, but we the coaches and management are doing our best to keep them motivated and uplift their spirits,” said Colina.
The initially scheduled August PFL Season 2021 was first moved to September, but since then, it has been postponed several times as a result of the most recent lockdown due to the sudden surge caused by the Delta variant.
Despite the tentative schedules, the mad scramble to train, and finding ways to train effectively and still adhere to the public health protocols, CFC was still able to reach peak level several times.
Colina said to maintain that, they let the players do the same routine but in a lesser intensity and volume of workload, basically just maintenance training.
If it were up to Colina, the PFL should push through with Season 2021 because all clubs have done all their best given the circumstances to prepare for it, and it is too late to cancel the season.
However, everything is still tentative despite that there are only three months left before 2022 comes in.
According to the official PFL site, the Season 2021 kickoff is dependent on two conditions: lowering of quarantine status of Carmona, Cavite, and; at least six participating clubs competing in the league.
Carmona, Cavite, where the PFF National Training Center is situated, has been placed under Alert Level 3 until October 31, wherein all contact sports are not allowed except those conducted under a bubble-type setup governed by the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Games and Amusement Board and the Philippine Sports Commission; and approved by the concerned local government unit.
Undeniably, frustration is brewing in the club, especially that it is new and players are raring to play after more than a year of having no matches. However, Colina said that he makes sure that with the help of the rest of the staff, they are always thinking positive.
To help with this, Colina hopes that a planned team-building outside their home pitch will push through to provide the club with a new environment.
“A lot players have been affected with the constant rescheduling, not only players, the whole squad even the coaches and also the management,” said Colina. (RSC from PR)