Kaya FC-Iloilo Impress in Return to Action, Besting Loyola in Copa Opener The reigning PFL Champions are back, with a reloaded roster and a statement win to kick off their CPA campaign.

Kaya v Loyola; a classic Philippine football rivalry given new life in the 2023 edition of the Copa Paulino Alcantara. The two teams have finally been given the chance to continue their long and embattled story—and with Saturday’s  7-0 result, the first chapter belonged to the yellow & black. 

With seven goals and five different goal scorers, the convincing win over their old rivals was exactly what head coach Colum Curtis was hoping to achieve in his first game at the helm.

“Firstly, very happy with the effort that the players put in. Technically, there were lots of new concepts introduced within the first week of me in the role, and the players took to them fantastically,” Curtis said in a post-match interview. “Not only that, they’ve done it with desire which I’m just delighted about.” 

Though they were still getting their legs under them, the boys did well to adapt their new gaffer’s aggressive style of play. What they lacked in mid-season precision and execution was made up for in effort and sheer volume; tallying a total of 37 total shots in this match.   

“Good effort from the team, at tsaka hard work,” stated the newly-appointed captain, Fitch Arboleda. “Yung sinasabi nga ni coach, dapat yung hard work namin ay non-negotiable—kaya nakuha namin yung win.”

It was a class performance from the players on the pitch, but it was equally matched by the level of support they got from up in the stands. 

“We could hear them throughout the 90 minutes,” noted Coach Curtis. “Just like I asked the players to run and to push for 90 minutes, it’s nice to see that the Ultras are giving us their best for 90 minutes.”

The new-look Kaya side gave them plenty to cheer for, and will be looking to provide much more as the tournament progresses.

 

Player Spotlight: 

Kapitan Fitch: First Impressions 
Fitch Arboleda’s captaincy got off to a spectacular start, rewarding the faith the club put in him with a brace in his first game wearing the armband. Two top corner finishes from two nearly identical spots beyond the penalty box—a promising indication of the consistency and stability he’ll provide this team on the pitch moving forward.

Dream Debuts
Four of the club’s seven new signings recorded their maiden goals for the yellow & black. Ricki Sendra and Mark Swainston finished off a pair of set pieces, Abou Sy kept knocking on the door until he was finally let in, and Justin Baas introduced himself to the Kaya faithful with a debut brace to remember.  

Daizo’s Delivery Service 
The PFL MVP didn’t have his shooting boots on quite right, but every other aspect of his game was clicking. Horikoshi danced through and around defenders all night, and made sure to properly welcome his new captain and teammates by treating them to four assists.