Mendiola in talks with Imus city government for hosting PFL matches

Already speculated by some last year, Mendiola could soon hold home matches in Imus.

By Ivan Saldajeno

SAN JUAN, MM—When Mendiola revealed its team for the 2020 PFL season in a press conference at Club Filipino on Saturday night, Imus' official city seal was seen in the tarpaulin mounted for the said event, leading to speculations that the club could be calling the said city home for the year.

In an interview with Dugout Philippines, Erwin Isla, the club's manager, confirmed that talks are ongoing for the Imus hosting to push through.

However, he added that it may take some time before the club can finally host matches at the Imus Grandstand.

"We're trying to collaborate to Imus right now kasi we still don't have the MOA (memorandum of agreement) of Imus and Mendiola... but we already talked to the mayor and government officers in Imus," Isla said.

But he added in optimism, "As of this time, we're hoping that we're going to have our home game in Imus."

With possibly an additional play-for-pay squad playing home games in Imus aside from the Bandera of the MPBL, the said city could get another major boost not just in its sports tourism but also in its sports development.

"We wanted to help them in terms of enjoying the football game with the youth of every Imus constituent," Isla continued, baring that Mendiola is also offering its help in teaching football to the youngsters in the said city.

However, Mendiola's Imus invasion could be short lived as Ricardo Penson, the club's new chief backer, is now making initial steps in building a new stadium in the San Beda campus in Taytay, which Mendiola, mainly composed of former Red Booters, will call home.

For the meantime, with the PFL season set for a March 21 start, Isla said that Mendiola may be calling the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila its home.

"It's everybody's homecourt for the year, I guess, except for Stallion [Laguna]," he said in jest.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno