Kaya FC–Iloilo Seek Fifth-Straight PFL Win in Tussle with Global Cebu Noel Marcaida and Simone Rota talk about the team's focus on Saturday night.

PHILIPPINES FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Kaya FC–Iloilo vs. Global Cebu FC
Saturday, September 7 | 7PM
Aboitiz Pitch, Lipa, Batangas

Kaya FC–Iloilo are looking to extend their winning run in the Philippines Football League to five when they face Global Cebu on Saturday night, 7PM, at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa, Batangas. But with two weeks since their last league outing, head coach Noel Marcaida is wary of potential sluggishness.

“Lahat ng players aware sa usual na nangyayari coming from a long break and it was addressed kanina sa huddle,” he said of the team’s tendency to need time to resettle into the flow of PFL action.

Although Kaya holds two wins over Global already this season, the margins have been slim against the struggling side. The first was a 1-0 victory back in June, followed by a 2-0 triumph in August. Marcaida is hoping for an improvement on Saturday night.

“We made sure this week of preparation was particularly tough. We worked specifically on sharpness in the final third, and I’m looking forward to a much better result in tomorrow’s game,” he said.

On the defensive end, Iloilo has been tremendous this season, allowing only six goals in 14 outings so far. The team is currently riding its longest run of clean sheets, with four consecutive shutouts.

“Hopefully we don’t concede goals anymore, as we want to finish strong in the league. It’s always a collective effort. I believe the experience playing at an ASEAN level helped us work out the defensive aspects of the team early in the year. Being tested at that level has really given my players confidence,” said Marcaida.

Simone Rota will be among those trying to keep the opposition out on Saturday night, as the veteran defender is expected to make his awaited return to the Kaya starting lineup. Having only recently overcome several difficult injuries, the former Philippine international has found it difficult to string together a run of appearances this season. Far from disheartened, Rota is determined to make the most of his opportunity.

“It’s always good to have competition in the team because, that’s what makes you better and stronger every training,” he said. “I’ve come from an injury where most of the doctors were suggesting to retire from football. Instead, I took that as a challenge, and here I am. I am not yet done in football and I still want to try to achieve my goals, whatever it takes.”

“The key tomorrow will be how we will approach the game,” he said. “But from what I see, we’ve been training really well these past two weeks, so I am sure tomorrow we will be 100% focused,” he added.

The 7PM clash between Kaya and Global will be the closer of a PFL double header at the Aboitiz Pitch. Mendiola FC 1991 and Green Archers United collide in the curtain raiser at 4PM. Both matches can be streamed live over PFLTV.ph.