AFC Cup 2022: Visakha FC Match Preview Match 1 — Kaya FC-Iloilo begin their 4th AFC Cup campaign tomorrow against the reigning Cambodian powerhouse.

Kaya FC–Iloilo (PHI) vs Visakha FC (CAM)
Friday, June 24, 2022 | 5:00pm Kickoff
Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Bali

Bali, Indonesia — Kaya FC–Iloilo return to the continental stage on Friday, as they begin their fourth campaign in the AFC Cup with a match against Cambodia’s Visakha FC. The Philippine side’s 5:00pm clash with the Cambodian Cup Champions will be streamed live over Eleven Sports, and will serve as the first of three matches that Kaya will play in the next seven days.

“This is the most difficult group in the ASEAN Zone,” said Iloilo’s head coach Yu Hoshide about Group G, where Indonesian league Champions Bali United, and Malaysian League Runners-up Kedah also reside. “All of our opponents are very high quality clubs, so it’s like a final every game. We have to start strong and finish strong. In these three games, we will try our best.”

Kaya’s last run in the AFC Cup was in 2020, in a campaign that was cut short due to the pandemic. But while competitive matches were sparse for Asian clubs due to heightened restrictions, Iloilo still managed to break into the AFC Champions League last year. The Philippine side failed to garner any points against Asia’s top clubs, but garnered invaluable experience that they hope to take into the coming games.

“We learned so much from the Champions League. It’s an extra boost for every one of us,” said Iloilo Captain Jovin Bedic, who scored against Korean powerhouse and defending champions of the ACL at the time, Ulsan Hyundai. “Tomorrow is the start of our campaign so we’ll have to work for it, and hopefully we can get the three points.”

Passage into the next round of the competition is guaranteed only for the three ASEAN clubs that top their groups, along with the best runner-up of the three groups in the region. The last time Kaya progressed from the group stage was in 2016, in their first run in the AFC Cup.

To reach their goal, Kaya will lean on a strong group of Philippine internationals, with Bedic, Simone Rota, Jhan Melliza, Jesse Curran, Sandro Reyes, Oskari Kekkonen, Mar Diano, Jarvey Gayoso ,and the recently signed Quincy Kameraad, each expected to play key roles in the campaign.

All of Kaya FC–Iloilo’s AFC Cup matches will be streamed live on ElevenSports.com.