Filipino champion aims for ACL2 success with Japanese help

The Philippines’ reigning club football champions have adopted a distinctly Japanese influence as they attempt to gain a foothold in Asia.

Kaya FC-Iloilo, led by Japanese coach Yu Hoshide, is among the teams competing in the ACL2, the newly formed second division of the Asian Champions League, this season.

They lost 3-0 away to Sanfrecce Hiroshima of the J-League in their first ACL2 game on September 19, but defender Akito Saito, one of four Japanese players in the Kaya squad, was optimistic about the prospects for both the club as well as for football in the Philippines.

“The facilities are not as good as in Japan, but I want to help raise enthusiasm for football in the Philippines,” said Saito, who played the entire game at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima.

None of Kaya’s Japanese squad have played in the J-League. Saito previously played in India, while Hoshide spent time as a player in countries such as Trinidad and Tobago before joining Kaya’s coaching staff in 2020.

The sporting landscape in the Philippines is dominated by boxing and basketball thanks to superstars like Manny Pacquiao, but the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams has prompted authorities to look for ways to strengthen the national soccer team, according to Hoshide.

As one of the strongest clubs in the country, Kaya will play a pivotal role in strengthening the Philippines’ national position.

While they failed to score a point in their previous ACL outings, Hoshide is determined to get results in the ACL2.

“I want to get closer to victory, even if it’s just one step,” he said.