MANILA – Ilonggo striker Jhan Melliza is hoping to win a championship in the Philippines Football League (PFL) after formalizing his transfer to his hometown squad Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo.
A champion as an amateur player with Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the football club championship has been elusive for the La Paz, Iloilo City-native Melliza during his stints with Green Archers United and Stallion-Laguna Football Club.
“Ang goal ko talaga sa pagpunta ko dito sa Kaya-Iloilo ay makapanalo ng club championship,” Melliza said. “Gusto kong matulungan ang Kaya-Iloilo na makapanalo ng championship uli sa PFL.”
The Ilonggo booter – a one-time UAAP Most Valuable Player winner and a three-time best striker awardee – was excited to suit up for his hometown squad. He is doing necessary adjustments to fit himself to the squad.
“Sobrang excited ako na makalaro sa Kaya-Iloilo,” Melliza said. “I am the one doing the adjustment kasi mahirap naman kung sila pa ang mag-adjust sa akin. Pinu-push ko talaga ang sarili ko kung saan ako tama, kung saan ako posibleng ilagay nila.”
Melliza was one of the two players who transferred to Kaya-Iloilo from Stallion-Laguna aside from Fitch Arboleda with hopes to help the Iloilo-based football club in international competitions.
“Dream ko din ang makalaro sa Asian Football Confederation (AFC) kaya magandang blessing itong nakapirma ako sa Kaya-Iloilo. Gusto kong ipakita sa kanila na deserve ko maging part nito,” he said.
The Iloilo City-based football club is scheduled to face Australia’s Brisbane Roar in the AFC Champions League either in June or July.
Should the club pull off two consecutive upsets against the Aussie and Chinese side, they will battle in Group F of the AFC Champions League group stage against Thailand’s BG Pathum United FC, South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, and Vietnam’s Viettel.
If Kaya-Iloilo drops either of the two matches, they will be relegated to the second tier 2021 AFC Cup for the second straight year and will battle either Shan United FC or Ayeyawady United FC from Myanmar, Terengganu FC from Malaysia, and Geylang International FC from Singapore./PN
