The promising Azkals Development Team (ADT) shockingly decided to pull out from the PFL with just a few matches left in the season.
“With a heavy heart, the Azkals Development Team announces its withdrawal from the Philippines Football League effective immediately,” wrote ADT in an official statement on its official Facebook page published Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
“ADT was formed to complement the Philippine Football Federation’s efforts to continuously prepare young Filipino athletes for international competitions, including the Southeast Asian Games. While our entire organization would have preferred to be in a more optimal situation, events imposed upon us in recent weeks have compelled us to take this action.”
However, ADT wrote that it will continue to support and develop young talent through its Azkals Development Academy.
With its withdrawal, Cebu Football Club (FC), which was supposed to have one more match with ADT, will be awarded with a 3-0 win.
Cebu FC ended with a scoreless draw against Stallion FC Laguna on Wednesday, May 24, at the Dynamic Herb Sports Stadium, thus ending its maiden PFL season campaign with a second place finish accumulating a total of 51 points.
Meanwhile, league leader Kaya FC Iloilo takes its first league title in club history, earning the club an outright spot to the group stage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League.
Earlier this year, reigning champion United City FC was forced to withdraw from the PFL and ceased all club operations due to financial problems.. (EKA)