MANILA – With the sudden pullout of Australia’s Brisbane Roar, Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo are just a victory away from making it to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League’s group stage.
The Iloilo City-based football club will have to topple Shanghai Port of China on June 23 at the Pathum Thani Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, to advance to the AFC Champions League’s tournament proper for the first time.
The AFC announced over the weekend that it accepted Football Australia’s decision to pullout its football clubs, including Brisbane Roar, from the continental tournament due to coronavirus disease 2019 health and safety concerns.
“The Sub-Committee approved the cancellation of the preliminary stage match between Brisbane Roar and Kaya FC-Iloilo from the Philippines, who will move one step closer towards making their Group Stage debut,” AFC said in a statement.
If Kaya-Iloilo pulls off a stunner against Shanghai Port, they will join Champions League’s Group F along with Thailand’s BG Pathum United FC, South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, and Vietnam’s Viettel.
However, if the Philippine-based team loses, they will be relegated to the second tier 2021 AFC Cup and battles either Shan United FC or Ayeyawady United FC from Myanmar, Terengganu FC from Malaysia, and Geylang International FC from Singapore.
“Really interesting group and excited to play AFC Cup again,” said Kaya-Iloilo head coach Yu Hoshide. “Preparation will be the key to winning, so we will try our best to push for the title.”
This is the second straight year that Kaya FC fights for a slot in the AFC Champions League group stage.
Unlike Kaya-Iloilo, the four-time defending Philippines Football League (PFL) champion United City Football Club is automatically playing in the 2021 AFC Champions League for ruling the 2020 edition of PFL.
United City FC were in Group I against China’s Beijing Guoan, current three-time Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale, and either South Korea’s Daegu FC or Thailand’s Chiangrai United./PN
