By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
INAUGURAL Copa Paulino Alcantara champion Kaya FC-Iloilo is bracketed in Group H when in plays in the AFC Cup next year.
In the official tournament draw held at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, Kaya found itself in the same grouping as Home United of Singapore, Lao Toyota FC of Laos and a still-to-be-named team from Indonesia.
The spot in the 2019 AFC Cup is part of the incentives for Kaya after winning the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the Philippines’ football cup tournament.
Kaya defeated Davao Aguilas FC in the finals in October, 1-0, in an exciting match that went to extra time.
“It’s an exciting group. It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but a challenge that the club and the players are excited for,” said Kaya General Manager Paul Tolentino following the draw.
“For supporters of Kaya FC and supporters of football in general, this is an exciting opportunity for them to see clubs from different countries, to see their level of football and to see how the Filipinos are really able to cope at this level, with what you could say are more experienced and seasoned opponents. The club is striving to bring matches home to Iloilo. Obviously there’s a lot of work to be done to get approval from AFC to be able to play in front of the Iloilo home crowd, but we’re doing our best,” he added.
Kaya is set to first play on Feb. 27 away against Lao Toyota FC and plays at home against Home United on March 13.
The rest of the schedule goes as: April 2 vs Indonesian club (away), April 17 vs Indonesian Club (home), April 30 vs Lao Toyota FC (home) and May 14 vs Home United (away).
Also competing in the tournament from the Philippines is Ceres-Negros FC, the reigning Philippines Football League champion. It plays in Group G.
During the official draw, the AFC expressed its excitement and said its looking forward to the tournament proper in 2019.
“The Cup exemplifies the continent’s love for football, a passion for the game that shows no signs of slowing down, especially when you look at the record attendances set in Indonesia this year. The AFC’s vision and mission is clear. We want to raise the standard of our competitions and we want to confirm football as the number one sport in the continent,” said AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John.
