MANILA – Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo will shoot for a place in the AFC Champions League when it battles China’s Shanghai Port in a playoff match tonight at the Leo Stadium in Bueng Yitho, Thailand.
A victory in the match scheduled at 10 p.m. is vital for the Iloilo City-based football club to qualify in the Champions League along with United City Football Club.
Kaya-Iloilo will be bracketed with Thailand’s BG Pathum United FC, South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, and Vietnam’s Viettel if they could hurdle the Chinese team.
But, if Kaya-Iloilo loses to Port, they will be relegated to the second tier 2021 AFC Cup and will battle either Shan United FC or Ayeyawady United FC from Myanmar, Terengganu FC from Malaysia, and Geylang International FC from Singapore.
Despite being the underdogs in the match-up, Kaya-Iloilo vowed to give their best to reach the Champions League, according to the newly-appointed Kaya-Iloilo mentor Graham Harvey.
“I think it’s very important that we go [to Thailand] with a nice, positive mindset,” he added. “Our style is definitely going to be one of making sure that we are intense without the ball.”
The match will also serve as the debut for Ilonggo Jhan Melliza and Fitch Arboleda, who transferred from Stallion Laguna FC, and for Philippine Azkals member Jarvey Gayoso, Nathan Bata, Japanese-Korean Ryo Fujii, and Ghanian Patrick Asare.
“Everybody’s doing their very best in the challenging circumstances that we have to make sure that we represent our club and all of the fans to the best of our ability,” said Harvey./PN
