Longer UFL season kicks off next weekend

MANILA, Philippines -- The United Football League 2014 will unfold on Jan. 11 at the Emperador Stadium with nine First Division clubs figuring in more games using a triple-round robin format instead of the traditional double-round.

This after the league Technical Committee secured approval for their recommendations that the nine teams in the top division play a total of 24 matches instead of the 18 if it reverted to its old format, making the tournament a month longer than before.

Loyola Meralco Sparks, which secured their first UFL title after reigning supreme in the Cup late last year, reigning champion Stallion FC and traditional powerhouse teams Global and LBC-backed Kaya FC should be the yardstick in the much-awaited season.

Team Socceroo is expected to flaunt its true strength after its recent promotion to the first group following a dominating performance in the League's Second Division last year when it run away with the crown.

Other squads to watch out for are Pachanga Diliman, Green Archers United, PSG FC and Phl Army, the last narrowly escaping relegation by clinging on to the final spot in the top bracket.

Nomads FC, which wound up eighth in last year's League edition, has voluntarily dropped down to the Second Division after its failure to comply with the league's Foreigner Cap Rule, which allows each club to field a minimum of six Filipino players on the pitch at all times.

Nomad's decension thus made the Second Division a 12-team group, which included former Cup and League winner Phl Air Force, Ceres-La Salle Bacolod FC and Manila Jeepney FC, which all performed impressively in the recent Cup.

Of the three, Ceres should be a team to watch after stunning a heavily favored Global side in their home and away finale to snare the Phl Football Federation-Smart National Club Championship in hometown Bacolod.

Unlike the First Division, the Second Division will observe the old, double-round robin format, which means the 12 teams will play 22 matches each.