Amidst their impending debut in the 2021 AFC Champions League, Kaya-Iloilo has announced the hiring of a new mentor to guide them through Asia’s biggest club competition.
The LBC-backed club announced that British coach Graham Harvey will take charge of the team.
The historic Filipino club looks to overcome Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port. The competition has penciled the match in to take place on June 23 in Thailand.
Harvey is a well-travelled coach, who has experience in the UK, in Australia, and in Hong Kong.
Harvey’s most successful coaching stint was with Westen Pride Football Club, which competes in the Northern Premier League Queensland from 2015-2018.
From 11th and 10th place finishes in the league in his first two campaigns, he was able to steer the club to the championship in 2017. They then made another semi-finals appearance the year later.
He later moved to Hong Kong to work with Eastern Long Lions Football team, now known as Eastern Sports Club, as an assistant coach under Chan Yuen Ting in June 2018.
After that, he was named technical director of Redlands United Football Club in August 2019. There, he took charge in developing youth players.
Harvey is an AFC ‘A’ License holder . Now, it is on him to help Kaya defy the odds as a win against Shanghai Port will enable Kaya to face the likes of Thailand’s BG Pathum United; South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai; and Vietnam’s Viettel in Group F of the continental tournament.
