Maya took its teamwork from the office to the football pitch, completing a perfect 9–0 campaign to win the Corporate Football League (CFL) 2026 Division 3 Cup.
The digital financial services company defeated Shopee, 3–1, in the championship match at Atleta ’63 Turf Field in Bridgetowne, Pasig City, capping an unbeaten run that saw Maya score 31 goals and concede just three.
A cross-functional team on and off the pitch
The Maya squad brought together employees from across the company, including product development, engineering, technology, data science, consumer business, credit, enterprise, strategic partnerships, marketing, corporate affairs, and strategy and programs.
That mix meant teammates who work in different parts of Maya during the week had to operate as one unit on the field.
“We came from very different teams across Maya, but on the pitch everyone had one priority: do what the team needed,” said Mohamed Omar Mahmoud, Maya football team co-captain and senior strategic partnerships officer.
“People showed up, trained hard and trusted one another. Going 9–0 was special, but the best part was winning it together.”
Maya’s championship run stretched from July to August, with the team winning all nine of its matches.
It defeated UnionBank, Wells Fargo, Shopee, GCash, JPMorgan Chase, RCM, and Globe during the tournament before beating UnionBank, 2–0, in the semifinals.
The team then closed out the competition with its 3–1 victory over Shopee in the Division 3 final.
Football adds another layer to employee engagement
Maya said the football team is part of broader efforts to encourage employee engagement, wellness, and connections across different parts of the organization.
The company’s environmental, social, and governance framework identifies respect for people as one of its four pillars, with its people strategy covering professional development, health and wellness, workplace safety, and employee engagement.
Sports and other shared-interest activities provide employees with opportunities to stay active and interact with colleagues outside their usual work teams.
“At Maya, engagement goes beyond formal workplace programs,” said Charee Lanza, Group Chief People Officer at Maya. “We want people to have opportunities to stay active, pursue shared interests and connect with colleagues they may not normally work with.”
“This team showed how that energy, discipline and sense of ownership can bring people together,” Lanza added.
Maya joins companies competing in the CFL
The Corporate Football League is an amateur football competition featuring teams from companies and organizations across different industries.
Its tournaments include corporate, mixed open, and women’s categories, while corporate teams compete across different divisions based on competitive level.
For Maya, the 2026 Division 3 title adds a sporting achievement to its broader employee engagement activities—while the team’s 31-goal, three-conceded campaign gives the championship an impressive statistical finish.
