By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo makes its return at Iloilo Sports Complex as it plays host to defending champions United City Football Club in the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League this afternoon.
Game time is at 3:00 p.m., where the Iloilo City-based booters aim to keep their top spot with 27 points on nine wins and two losses, while United City eyes to improve their second place standings by 24 points, on seven wins and three draws.
This will be the second encounter between Kaya-Iloilo and United City this season since their first meeting last September 17 where the latter defeated the former, 2-0, behind goals by Pocholo Bugas and Hikaru Minegishi.
Kaya-Iloilo head coach Yu Hoshide said he is very much looking forward to the squad’s homecoming against their rivals as he anticipates massive support from the Ilonggo football fans.
“Since becoming the head coach of Kaya-Iloilo, we have never played in Iloilo City yet, but thankfully, we will get the chance to play in front of our fans this Saturday,” Hoshide said.
“All I know is that Kaya-Iloilo never loses at Iloilo Sports Complex, so hopefully we can continue to do that and make the Iloilo football fans proud,” the former Kaya-Iloilo booter-turned-head coach added.
Jhan Jesus Melliza, one of the Ilonggo players in Kaya-Iloilo’s roster, said he looks forward to the match as this is his first time to play in front of Ilonggos as a member of the team.
“Ngayon pa lang, gusto ko na magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga Ilonggo na magsuporta sa amin. Siyempre, nire-represent namin ang Iloilo. Siyempre, excited kami na magdaog sa mga games namin sa Iloilo,” the Igbaras, Iloilo-native Melliza said.
It was just recently that the Iloilo City-based football club renewed its memorandum of agreement with the Iloilo province to serve as their homecourt for the next three years.
Kaya-Iloilo came from a close 2-1 victory over Stallion-Laguna Football Club just before Halloween, while United City was fresh from a 1-0 escape over the same team last week./ASC, WDJ