Kaya FC moves to Iloilo, spices up ‘Visayas derby’

MANILA, Philippines — Kaya FC has completed its transfer from Makati to Iloilo, making the country’s football hotbed its new home for the Philippines Football League hostilities.

The team will be renamed Kaya FC-Iloilo and will play its home games at Iloilo Sports Complex following the signing of memorandum of agreement by Kaya owner Santi Araneta and Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.

With Kaya relocating, the PFL’s “Visayas derby” got all the more interesting and competitive as the former Metro Manila side joined reigning champ Ceres Negros FC and runner-up Global Cebu FC in the mix.

Ilonggos in the Kaya fold are also expected to get added drive to perform to their best, such as Shirmar Felongco from Calinog and Joven Bedic from Barotac Nuevo, as well as Negrenses Jayson Panhay, Janrick and Jalsor Soriano, and Camelo Tacusalme.

Kaya, which used to play at University of Makati field, placed fourth in the inaugural PFL season, and looks to sustain the gains in 2018. The team recently acquired Tacusalme, Connor Tacagni and Ace Villanueva and youthful Arnel Amita and Mike and Audie Menzi to join holdovers led by Kenshiro Daniels and Ref Cuaresma.

“I think what we took from last season was that the margins of winning and losing are extremely fine,” said team manager Chris Greatwich. “On paper, it was disappointing to finish fourth place ultimately but if you look at the balance of play throughout the regular season, for large parts, I thought we were arguably the best team in the league.”