UFL Division 2

The United Football League Division 2, often referred to as UFL Division 2 or UFL 2, was the second-tier association football league in the Philippines. During its existence, it is the second-highest division of football in the Philippines after UFL Division 1. Each year, the winner of the league gets an automatic promotion to the latter. The second placer, on the other hand, goes against the ninth placer of the first division in a two-legged playoff.[1]

United Football League
Division 2
Founded2009
Folded2015
Country Philippines
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toUFL Division 1
Domestic cup(s)UFL Cup
League cup(s)UFL FA League Cup
UFL FA Cup
Last championsLaos (1st title)
(2015)
Most championshipsGlobal
Manila Nomads
Pachanga Diliman
Sigla
Ceres
Laos
(1 title each)
WebsiteUFL.ph

UFL Division 2 was introduced for the 2010 season.[2] For the 2015 season, Ceres and Manila Jeepney were promoted to compete in the country's top-flight division. Due to its inability to comply with the league's foreigner cap rule, Manila Nomads volunteered to step down from UFL Division 1 before the start of the 2014 season. Thus, Manila Jeepney was also automatically promoted to the first division.[2]

The league was scrapped after the 2015 season with the 2016 season to push through with only a single division.[3]

History

Inception of second-tier league

After the end of 2011 season, seven new clubs entered the United Football League as part of the formation of UFL Division 2. Among the clubs that participated in the inaugural run of the second division, which commenced on 14 January 2012, include Agila, Cebu Queen City United, Diliman, Forza, Laos, Pachanga, and Team Socceroo participated in the second division.[1] Manila Nomads won the first-ever UFL Division 2 title, and the club was promoted to UFL Division 1 the following season.[4] Two other clubs from the second division were also promoted to the first division, namely: Pasargad and Stallion.[5]

Pachanga was crowned UFL Division 2 champion for the 2012 season. The club finished at the top of the second division, which secured the team's promotion to UFL Division 1.[6] Freddy Gonzalez, the a striker for Pachanga, was awarded the golden boot of UFL Division 2 for the 2012 season. Thus, Pachanga replaced the relegated Navy in the first division.

Expansion year and restructuring

At the start of the 2012 season, UFL Division 2 got expanded to 12 football clubs.[7] Most of the matches for the second division were held at the Turf@BGC, a venue with an artificial football pitch located at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.[8] The league kicked off its first match between Dolphins United and Cebu Queen City United on February 9, 2013, at the Emperador Stadium.[9] However, Cebu Queen City United did not show up in the game time.[10]

On 1 March 2013, the UFL management has officially ruled out Cebu Queen City United from participating after the club apparently withdrawn when the club’s request for home games in Cebu was turned down by the league.[11]

A new promotion-relegation system was adopted by the league at the start of the 2013 season. The club that finishes second in UFL Division 2 also has a chance of being promoted via a two-legged aggregate-goal playoff against the ninth-place team in the first division, similar to the system used in the Bundesliga.[12]

Introduction of foreigner cap rule

For the 2014 season, relegated Philippine Air Force was replaced by Team Socceroo, the champions of the 2013 UFL Division 2.[13][14] Further, Manila Nomads voluntarily stepped down from the first division to play in UFL Division 2 due to the club's inability to comply with UFL Division 1's foreigner cap rule before this season commenced. The UFL executive committee decided to implement a version of the foreign player rule. Under such rule, a club may only field in a maximum of five foreign players on the pitch at any given time. However, two of the six remaining players on the pitch may still be foreigners provided that they are permanent residents of the Philippines for at least five years.[15] In addition, Ceres also made their league debut during this season.[16]

Summary

The top club in UFL Division 2 each season receive an automatic promotion to the first division. Starting the 2013 season, the second placer also gets a chance of being promoted via a two-legged playoff against the ninth-place club in UFL Division 1.

Season Champion Runners-up Third place
2010
 Global Manila Nomads Mama Africa
2011
 Manila Nomads Stallion Pasargad
2012
 Pachanga Diliman Cebu Queen City United
2013
 Team Socceroo Union Internacional Manila † Forza
2014
 Ceres-La Salle Manila Jeepney Philippine Air Force
2015
 Laos JP Voltes‡ Forza

* Bold designates promoted clubs
† Lost the promotion and relegation playoff
‡ Won the promotion and relegation playoff and got promoted

Clubs

Honors

Golden boot winners
Season Player Club Goals
2011 Steven Borrill Manila Nomads 15
2012 Freddy Gonzalez Pachanga 34
2013 Jeong Woo Lee Team Socceroo 14
2014 Jin Ho Kim Ceres 32
2015 Chichiro Noda JP Voltes 12

Golden ball award
Year
Player
Position
Club
2011 Steven Borrill Midfielder Manila Nomads
2012 Freddy Gonzalez Forward Pachanga FC
2013 Jeong Woo Lee Forward Team Socceroo
2014
None given for UFL Division 2
2015

Golden glove trophy
Year
Player
Club
2011 Jeff Blake Manila Nomads
2012 Kenneth Dolloso Pachanga
2013 Seung Seok Seo Team Socceroo
2014 Louie Michael Casas Ceres
2015
None given for UFL Division 2

See also

References
  1. de Guzman, Mikhail (15 December 2011). "Seven New Clubs Enter UFL 2nd Division". Soccer Central Philippines. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  2. "Upcoming 2014 League brings Exciting Additions to UFL". Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. Guerrero, Bob (13 January 2016). "What to expect in Philippine football in 2016". Rappler. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  4. Tupas, Cedelf (18 December 2011). "UFL promotes three teams to first division". inquirer.net. The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  5. Tupas, Cedelf (18 December 2011). "UFL promotes three teams to first division". Inquirer.net. The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  6. Karl Decena (16 June 2012). "Pachanga defeats Agila, secures UFL Division One promotion". Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  7. Gonzales, Mav (14 January 2012). "Azkals' new recruits banner UFL opening". Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  8. Ray Moore (27 January 2012). "Growing in popularity, PHL football needs grassroots support". Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  9. Almo, Alder (February 8, 2013). "UFL unveils new home in McKinley Hill". philstar.com. philstar.com. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  10. Karl Decena (February 10, 2013). "Cebu Queen City no-shows UFL debut match in new Emperador Stadium". InterAKTV. InterAKTV. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  11. Decena, Karl. "Cebu Queen City out of UFL Division Two". InterAKTV. Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  12. Guerrero, Bob (1 February 2013). "UFL League kicking off with big changes". Yahoo! Philippines Sports. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  13. "Pasargad sends Air Force to relegation after 6-0 beating". InterAksyon.com. TV5/ABC Development Corporation. June 13, 2013. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  14. Karl Decena (May 27, 2013). "Team Socceroo escapes late Forza surge to clinch UFL Division Two crown". InterAksyon.com. TV5/ABC Development Corporation. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  15. "2013/14 UFL Cup Participation Guidelines". Facebook.com. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  16. "Upcoming 2014 League brings Exciting Additions to UFL". Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
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