Kaya FC-Iloilo appointed Irish coach Colum Curtis as its new head coach for the upcoming Copa Paulino Alcantara and AFC Champions League campaign.
Curtis, the 33-year-old tactician, will lead the team along with Yu Hoshide as the 2023 PFL champions aims to bolster their squad ahead of the two key competitions.
“It’s fantastic to be here and think that we’re going to fit well together,” said Curtis in a statement from club’s website. “After my first session with the players, it’s clear to see that they’re hard workers and that they’re up for the challenge—and it’s something that I’m excited about.”
With the AFC Champions League on the horizon, Curtis expects the players to rise up to the challenge.
“(With) Kaya being the biggest club in the Philippines, the AFC Champions League was a big draw for me to come here,” Curtis added. “Of course there’s some big hitters for us to come up against, but it’s a challenge that the players and I must relish and will be up for.”
Kaya also announced their new additions to their roster with Justin Baas, Henri Bandeken, Ricardo Sendra, Abou Sy, Mark Swainston, Akito Saito, and Curt Dizon expected to bolster the defending champions.
The PFL champions begin their campaign against Loyola FC in their highly anticipated match on Saturday at 5:30 PM at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Image from Kaya FC-Iloilo