Kaya FC–Iloilo was drawn into Group H in today’s AFC Cup 2020 draw held at the Asian Football Confederation House in Kuala Lumpur. The Filipino club will likely face Singapore’s Tampines Rovers, Indonesia’s PSM Makassar, and Myanmar’s Shan United in the all-important group stage, which is set to begin in February.
While Kaya, who finished second in the Philippines Football League last year, are certain to be part of the group, there’s a slight chance the rest of the cast may change. Both S. League runners-up, Tampines Rovers, and Myanmar National League champions, Shan United, qualified for the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League, allowing the pair to vie for a spot in Asia’s top club competition. In the event that they navigate the arduous road through the top sides from Thailand, Australia, and Japan, Tampines would be replaced by Geylang United, and Shan with Ayeyawady United. Otherwise, the pair would drop back into AFC Cup competition. Meanwhile, PSM Makassar will need to win a playoff against Timor Leste’s Lalenok United to earn their spot in Group H— a tie which the Indonesian side is favored to win over the AFC Cup first-timers.
The draw was attended by representatives from 48 of the top performing clubs from rising footballing nations from all across the continent, including defending champions Al-Ahed of Lebanon, and fellow Filipino club Ceres Negros. Present for the draw for the Iloilo side was Team Manager Aly Borromeo.
“It’s a tough group again as usual. We go back to Indonesia, we visit Myanmar, and Singapore,” Borromeo said, before expressing excitement at the opportunity to rectify a 2-1 defeat to PSM Makassar on home soil last year. “We’re looking to get back at PSM (Makassar). If they win their playoff [against a Timor Leste side], which most likely is going to happen, there’s going to be a bit of a battle there.”
Despite the high level of opposition, Borromeo, who captained the team as a player in Kaya’s first foray into the tournament back in 2016, and managed the side in last year’s AFC Cup run, is confident the Filipino side has the quality and experience to handle the challenge.
“Considering that we have our core guys in the squad still, and that it’s our third time in AFC Cup competition, we should be up to par this time. We should be ready to go in February. I hope we get the team chemistry going by then, and we should be on track.”
Kaya FC–Iloilo’s campaign begins with a trip to Myanmar in February, with their final group stage match scheduled in Singapore in the middle of May. The full schedule will be made available in the coming days.
