Finally football returns to Iloilo

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BY LUIS BUENAFLOR JR.
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February 7, 2018
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NOW if only the greatest footballer in the history of FC Barcelona and the Philippines, Paulino Alcantara, were alive today he’d probably say, “Bravo, el fútbol finalmente ha llegado a casa en Iloilo!” And it should not come as a surprise if former Azkal great and now coach of the U-15 National Football Team Chieffy Caligdong would also say, “Bravo, football has finally come home to Iloilo!” For a few years professional football seems to have largely forgotten or ignored Iloilo whether by design or force of circumstance; we can only speculate. But the fact of the matter is that when the country’s first ever truly professional football, the Philippine Football League or PFL, kicked off Iloilo was nowhere in sight, not even in the substitute’s bench.

Perhaps for any other city in these islands that’s no big deal, but for Iloilo not to be a part of the country’s inaugural professional football league is blasphemy to say the least.

After all, it is in Iloilo where the town of Barotac Nuevo is, and officially or unofficially that town is the cradle of Philippine football.

It is in Iloilo where the greats of the “beautiful game” past and present came from, among the perhaps hundreds moi needs to only mention two names: Paulino Alcantara and Chieffy Caligdong and the message is delivered emphatically.

By default, Ceres-Bacolod from the nearby island of Negros served as the de facto football representative of the Ilonggo-speaking nation in the PFL and they did not disappoint. They were the champions in the PFL’s inaugural season.

Of course it just won’t do as Bacolod and Iloilo are traditional rivals in football.

Just when it seemed like another PFL season without an Ilonggo team, something came up, giving the Ilonggo football fans some hope.

Kaya Futbol Club (Kaya FC) and PFL proposed a partnership with the Province of Iloilo, and base their football club at the Iloilo Sports Complex as its Home Stadium.

Kaya Futbol Club general manager Paul Tolentino together with players Shirmar Felongco and Joven Bedic, both from Iloilo, met with Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Provincial Sports Consultant Pablito Araneta and lawyer Dennis Ventilacion and presented their proposal for this partnership.

With this meeting the first step was taken and it seems the draught is finally over. Will we finally cheer for Kaya-Iloilo in the 2018 PFL season?

And then this happened:

Kaya FC makes Iloilo home field

(Panay News February 2, 2018)

KAYA Futbol Club is officially partnering with Iloilo province for the 2018 Philippine Football League as it makes the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz, Iloilo City as its home field.

Capitol football director Edwin Caro Laru-an told Panay News the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has approved the partnership. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be signed on Tuesday.

“Na-approve na ng SP ang authority na mag-enter si Gov. (Arthur Defensor Sr.) into a MOA with Kaya FC,” Laru-an said. “The MOA signing will be on Tuesday.”

“The partnership is a welcome development for Iloilo, especially sa grassroots at sa mga football fans,” he added. “As we all know, Iloilo is considered one of the country’s football hotbeds.”

The partnership is seen to revive the football rivalry between Iloilo and Negros Occidental, now represented by defending PFL champion Ceres Negros FC.

Kaya is one of the oldest active football clubs in the Philippines. Established in 1996, it became one of the founding members of the United Football League in 2010.

The Santi Araneta-supported squad has one UFL championship under its belt and one international tournament appearance, during the 2016 AFC Cup.

Last year Kaya made University of Makati as its home court in the PFL. The club finished third place in the elimination round but was booted out by Ceres Negros in the semifinals.

Finally a professional football team we can finally call our own Kaya FC – Iloilo.

That little kid playing in the football pitches in La Paz, Santa Barbara and Barotac Nuevo plazas will finally have something to look forward to be a professional footballer and wear the colors of Kaya FC – Iloilo.

While there’s that old man who once wore the colors of San Agustin, Iloilo and Western Visayas playing football for school, province and region, he will finally have something to look forward to: match day for the home team at the Iloilo Sports Complex.

As they say, “once a footballer always a footballer.” (brotherlouie16@gmail.com)/PN
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