Country Philippines Founded 2011 Number of teams 8 (last edition) | Confederation AFC (Asia) Folded 2015 Level on pyramid 1 | |
The PFF National Men's Club Championship is a Filipino association football competition organized by the Philippine Football Federation. It is sponsored by mobile phone and internet service provider Smart Communications and therefore known as the PFF–Smart National Men's Club Championship.
Contents
History
The Philippine Football Federation had not been able to organize a national tournament since 2007, when they staged the PFF Centennial Men's Open Championship.
In January 2011, with the recent success of the national football team and renewed national interest in football, Smart Communications approached the PFF with an offer to finance a new local football competition. The proposed partnership was set to last 10 years, with Smart releasing ₱80 million in funds with the aim of providing more playing opportunities for skilled football players, and the eventual creation of a national league. Newly installed Philippine Football Federation president Mariano V. Araneta subsequently approved the proposal. In March 2011, the new tournament commenced under the name PFF–Smart Men's Club Championship.