By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo added strength to its midfielder position ahead of the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League after securing the services of Japanese-Korean Ryo Fujii.
The Iloilo City-based football club on Thursday evening announced the arrival of the dynamic 24-year-old midfielder, who had experienced playing in the United States and Sweden before.
“I’m really excited to be a part of Kaya FC for this upcoming season. I can’t wait to see you all soon. Una Kaya!” Fujii said in a video message posted on Kaya-Iloilo’s Instagram account.
Capable as a deep-lying playmaker, and as a dangerous link to the attack, Fujii adds a depth to Kaya-Iloilo’s midfield position that already boasts Marwin Angeles, Arnel Amita, Dylan de Bruycker, and Masanari Omura.
Fujii was supposed to sign with Global Football Club last year but its removal from the Philippines Football League competition stalled his stint to play in the Philippines before getting an offer from Kaya-Iloilo.
Born in Hong Kong to a Japanese father and a Korean mother, Fujii grew up in the United States and has suited up in the high school soccer circuit and became part of Chivas USA and L.A. Galaxy youth teams.
In college, Fujii played for a season for U.C. Santa Barbara before signing with L.A. Galaxy II where he served as captain in the ‘16-17 United Soccer League season. He signed for Swedish club Nyköpings BIS in 2018.
The Iloilo City-based football club is scheduled to face Australia’s Brisbane Roar in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League either in June or July with the winner facing Beijing FC in a playoff for a spot in the group stage a week after.
Should the club pull off two consecutive upsets against the Aussie and Chinese side, they will compete 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.
But, 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./ASC, WDJ