Kaya FC-Iloilo to face tough oppositions in their AFC Champions League Preliminaries

Joining United City FC in their quest to be part of the Big Boys of the Continent, Kaya FC-Iloilo will begin their Road to the AFC Champions League 2021 with tough competition ahead of them.

Kaya FC-Iloilo will have to go through the long route to Asia's most prestigious club football tournament after finishing second in the Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways.

In the first stage of the AFC Champions League Preliminaries, they will face Brisbane Roar FC. Should they beat the Australian powerhouse, they will then have to meet with Beijing Guoan FC. If fortune favors them, defending champions Ulsan Hyundai, BG Pathum United, and Viettel FC await them in Group I of the AFC Champions League.

"Brisbane Roar is really a tough team to beat but of course we're not going to sit there and wait."

Photo by: Kaya Futbol Club

Raring to go back in the pitch, the Barotac Nuevo-native also said, "When we come back to training we will make sure that everything is in the right place and everyone is on the same page."

Bedic also sees this opportunity for them to prove their worth.

"This really means a lot for us. this is the first time for the club to face a bigger club. And of course, we will have to prepare for this challenge. When it's time to face them for sure we're also ready for that big challenge."

Though it will be a tall order for the 2018 Copa Paulino Alcantara winners, general manager Paul Tolentino, like the fans of the club, can only hope for a great outcome in this journey.

"We’re excited to get the AFC Cup 2021 going, but before that, we should be allowed to dream. Let’s go, Brisbane, let’s go Beijing!"

This year will mark their fourth appearance in the AFC Cup but they would hope to do better than their previous performances especially now that they are in a position where they could possibly make it to the biggest stage in Asia in terms of club football.

Their journey in the AFC Champions League will kick off on the seventh of April. Should they fail to progress to the group stages, they will be pitted against Geylang International FC, Shan United or Ayeyawady United, and Terengganu FC, where former Kaya FC striker Jordan Mintah and Philippine Azkals defender Carlie de Murga currently play for.

“Burmese and Singaporean clubs are familiar for us but we don’t know a lot about Malaysian clubs, which will make it a nice experience too. Preparation will be the key to winning, so we will try our best to push for the title," said Kaya FC's head coach Yu Hoshide about the possibility of facing these clubs in the AFC Cup.