Asian foes for Kaya, Cebu at start of ACL 2

–Kaya-Iloilo FC

The Philippines’ campaign in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2 kicks off on Thursday with Kaya-Iloilo and Dynamic Herb Cebu looking to secure positive results away from home.

Kaya starts its other foreign competition in Japan against Sanfreece Hiroshima at 6 p.m. in Manila, while Cebu hosts South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Rizal Memorial Stadium two hours later.

Both are facing Asian teams for the second straight year, albeit in a revamped competition format the AFC is introducing this year, with the Champions League Elite reserved for the region’s premier clubs and the Champions League 2 to be participated in by those that didn’t meet the grade of the first-tier tourney.

Kaya went winless in the AFC Champions League while Cebu registered a win in the AFC Cup.

Cebu, however, is once again forced to play its home matches in Manila as local reports said that the Cebu City Sports Center didn’t meet AFC standards.

Qualified by virtue of being champions of the Philippines Football League (PFL) for the second straight season, Kaya got a significant boost ahead of the ACL 2 with the return of Japanese winger Daizo Horikoshi, who came off a stint with Thai League 2 side Trat.

Busy schedule

The ACL 2 is part of a busy schedule for Kaya, which is also competing in the Asean Club Championship while in the midst of beginning its quest for a third title in the PFL which starts on Sept. 28.

Cebu is expected to be led by JB Borlongan, who had an impressive showing for the Philippine men’s football team in the recent Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Kaya and Cebu are among the 10 clubs that will take part in the PFL’s 2024-25 season, joining Stallion-Laguna, One Taguig, Davao Aguilas, Manila Digger, Mendiola FC 1991, Loyola FC and Maharlika Taguig.

The 10th participant is the national youth team, which will be known as the Philippine Football Federation Development Club.