UFL promotes three teams to first division

MANILA, Philippines—The United Football League, looking to build on the unprecedented interest generated by the staging of its UFL Cup, has promoted three teams to the first division and welcomed seven more in the second tier when its expanded league competitions kick off next month.

Nomads, Stallion FC and Pasargad will complete the 10-team first division after finishing 1-2-3 in the second-tier league last season.

The three teams join champion Air Force Phoenix, former winner Global, Loyola Meralco, Kaya, Army, Navy and Green Archers United.

The UFL technical committee has also accepted the applications of Team Socceroo, Forza FC, Agila, Laos FC, Pachanga, Diliman FC and Cebu Queen City United, bringing the number of teams in the second division to 12.

Pachanga reached the last 8 of the UFL Cup, while Socceroo and Diliman gained the last 16.

Staying in the second division are Sunken Garden, Manila-All Japan, Dolphins, Union Internacionale Manila and Lions FC.

Though it will no longer have knockout stages, UFL president Randy Roxas of the Football Alliance yesterday said the league competition will only be as exciting.

“Football is growing and clearly the level of play has improved,” said Roxas, who noted the record 6,000 fans that watched the UFL Cup final won by Air Force over Loyola (2-0) at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last Dec. 1.