Two wins in three games in the 2016 Asian Football Confederation Cup group stage.
If you would have offered those results to any Kaya Football Club supporter, or any Filipino football fan for that matter, that person might have given their arm for it. To see a Filipino club do well in a continental competition would have been deemed impossible years ago.
A successful national team can never be the only way for football to prosper in the Philippines; club football must also flourish in the country. With two wins under their belt in the 2016 AFC Cup, it is safe to say that Kaya have added to the credibility of Filipino club football in the long run.
The past two victories of Kaya have been against Maldivian club New Radiant Sports Club and Singaporean team Balestier Khalsa Football Club. Both were slender 1-0 wins in succession for Kaya, with the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila the host venue.
The most recent victory was against Balestier last March 15, 2016. Anton Ugarte scored the winner in the 48th minute, and it was the least Kaya deserved after they had dominated the match.
Two players who played key roles in that victory were midfielder Alfred Osei and the aforementioned forward Ugarte.
Kaya FC’s Alfred Osei in their home game against Balestier Khalsa
If Ugarte’s role was primarily to attack, the same cannot be said about Osei, who had to do both attacking and defending in the match, giving him a bird’s eye view of the encounter. “It was very competitive and we were ready so we executed our game plan very well,” said Osei.
Kaya were more composed against Balestier than in their previous game against New Radiant. The passing was slicker and the players were more confident. Osei agreed with the notion and stated, “I think we improved on keeping the ball more and we weren’t clinical but we got the goal so we got the three points, most important.”
If there is one factor Kaya need to improve, though, it is definitely finishing in front. Both players admitted that this needed to be addressed soon since a team can’t win by a single goal every match. For Ugarte, Kaya was still in an adjustment process. “Yeah it’s still early in the season so I think we’re still trying to find how we play together, our own style but you know that will come in time. It’s still early in the season,” he said.
Osei likewise affirmed what his teammate said and added that the team is working together to solve it. “I think the coaching staff think about it, still working on it. We need to be clinical that’s for sure,” he added.
This year is the first time Kaya have participated in the AFC Cup or any continental club competition in their history. Osie felt that this fact has motivated the players individually and galvanized the club.
“We want to show people what we’re capable of doing.” Ugarte agreed with Osei and felt that the competition itself was a surprise to the club. Ugarte added, “We weren’t sure what the level was gonna be like but I think we’re proving to a lot of people that we deserve to be here and that we can compete with anybody in this competition.”
Up next for Kaya is an away trip to face Balestier in Singapore. It will be a difficult game, and Kaya will definitely want to prove something as they had lost their last away game, 0-1, against Kitchee Sports Club in Hong Kong. While a draw would be a great away result, Ugarte believed otherwise. “No I think, especially with our style of play, I think we want to try and win every game.”
Kaya FC’s Anton Ugarte (left) celebrating his goal against Balestier Khalsa
Complacency is the last thing Kaya need halfway through the group stages. Including the away fixture against Balestier in Singapore, there are still three more fixtures Kaya need to navigate in order to go through. Osei said, “We are top of the group by two points but we’re not overconfident and we’re still working on our mistakes to get better and better.”
Ugarte had the same sentiments with Osei but admitted that he felt Kaya have a good chance to qualify for the next round. Ugarte added, “We’re two points ahead in the group so maybe we can go to Balestier, get a favorable result, even better.”
Alongside Ceres-La Salle Football Club, Kaya FC have given Philippine football something to be proud of because of their 2016 AFC Cup forays. They have looked like worthy entrants after their 2015 United Football League Cup triumph.
Needless to say, however, they understand the need to not rest on their laurels. Qualification for the AFC Cup knockout stages will be fantastic for local football, and here’s hoping they pull it off.
