Kaya FC’s Hot Start is Just the Beginning PFL 2022 — Mendiola FC Match Preview and Quotes from Coach Yu Hoshide

Kaya FC-Iloilo are coming off an emphatic win over Dynamic Herb Cebu FC, toppling the gentle giants to the tune of three second-half goals courtesy of Jarvey Gayoso and Daizo Horikoshi. This makes it two wins in a row for the yellow and black to start the PFL season, and they’ll be looking to add a third to the books this coming Sunday versus Mendiola FC 1991.

“We played two games and got two wins, but they were not easy games,” said Iloilo Head Coach Yu Hoshide. “They were both tough games and hopefully it stays that way. We need a competitive league so that the level of Philippine football will also go up.”

Experience and match fitness won the day, but Coach Yu believes that there are still higher levels that Kaya can reach. With the season still in its early stages, the club has set their approach to match days with the overall marathon in mind.

“We have a game once a week, so that means 5-6 days of preparation. We have time to rest and recover, and for us coaches to do analysis and give feedback,” Hoshide stated. “Game by game, day by day, we can prepare and we can improve. So far we’ve won two games, but it’s still not good enough.”

Iloilo’s winning mentality will be tested in the coming weeks, but the players have left little to be desired when it comes to readiness. When the moment came for them to step up, then step up they did.

“Our players, especially those who aren’t starting, are all very hungry to play. In the last two games, the sub players really showed their hunger and all of them are improving,” the Japanese coach noted.

“Most of our players deserve to be starting, but I can only choose eleven players. Sometimes I’ll rotate in order to avoid injuries, but the quality is still there,” he added. “That’s why every training is very important for us. If players show well in training, they can play. It’s simple, but difficult to choose.”

What isn’t difficult for Coach Yu, however, is deciding his approach to the games and how to lead this team. He believes in the talent and quality of his squad, and is admittedly less focused on their opponents and more focused on Kaya’s own internal development.

“My style is that it doesn’t matter who is the opponent, we will not change. Of course, we will be informing the players about Mendiola for example; but what we have to do is play our style. We prepare not only for the next game, but also all our future games.” Coach proclaimed.

With unwavering faith in their style of play and in the player’s ability to execute it on the field, Iloilo look to sharpen themselves into a fine blade that’ll be capable of winning it all at the end.

Come watch this Sunday’s PFL Triple Header at the Rizal Memorial Stadium! Grandstand tickets are P250 but Students, Seniors, PWDs, Kaya Weekly Subscribers, and Kaya Academy Players get in for only P150! Kaya vs Mendiola kicks off at 5:30 PM, and you can also catch the Livestream at home on the PFL’s Facebook and YouTube pages!