Kaya FC Eager to Extend Iloilo Agreement Kaya’s Brass flew back to Iloilo to touch base with home, reconnect with our roots, and discuss future plans.
Last Wednesday, Kaya representatives led by President Paul Tolentino and Head Coach Yu Hoshide, got off a plane at the Iloilo International Airport for a day of important behind-the-scenes business. While the players have been tearing through the Copa Paulino Alcantara, management have also been hard at work to extend the club’s agreement with the footballing hotbed in the Heart of the Philippines.
“It’s a huge honor for us at Kaya to be representing the Province of Iloilo. The passion for football here is incredible, and we can’t wait to finally come back and play in front of our home fans,” said Kaya President and GM Paul Tolentino. “Since we started representing Iloilo in 2018, we’ve enjoyed so many milestones together — two trophies, two AFC Cup Campaigns, and a historic Champions League run. With things slowly returning to normal, we look forward to building on that success, and doing so in front of the most loyal and passionate supporters in the country.”
The day started off with an inspection of the club’s home ground, the Ilolio Sports Complex, a venue filled with many memories and great matches. The familiar field and stands were a sight to behold, and the day the boys take that pitch once again can’t come soon enough.
The party also dropped by Pavia, Iloilo to inspect the relatively new Campo Alcantara Football Stadium as another potential future venue for PFL matches in the area.
Next was a meeting at the Provincial Capitol with Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., which entailed a positive discussion regarding plans to support and nurture the sport all over the region, as well as extending the agreements between the club and the Province of Iloilo.
Following that was a trip to Iloilo City Hall to meet with Mayor Jerry Treñas, Councilor and 7’s Iloilo Founder Rudolph Ganzon, and Provincial Administrator Atty. Dennis Ventilacion.
Last but not least was a heartening visit to the famous Barotac Nuevo Plaza: the field where so many great Filipino footballers learned to play, including our own Jovin Bedic. The brass took the opportunity to catch up with the squad captain’s father Ariel Bedic—a longstanding football coach in the Barotac community. After donating some equipment for the local youth, they stayed to take in the atmosphere and watch the kids play in a friendly match.
“We’re here on a regular Wednesday afternoon and this Plaza is buzzing. Kids are playing, and so many people are here to enjoy the game and just hang out. I even overheard a few moms catching each other up on how the Iloilo U19’s are doing,” Paul stated. “It’s like this here everyday. Football is a staple of regular life, and the love for the game is pure. It’s a great reminder of why we got started in this sport in the first place.”
All in all, it was a productive trip that helped strengthen the bond between the club and the flourishing province they’ve represented since 2018. After over two years of separation due to the pandemic, it was great to finally touch base with home, as well as lay the groundwork for Kaya’s eventual and imminent return to Iloilo.
