After a two-month break, the Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways returns this Sunday 19 February 2023 at the Iloilo Sports Complex with league leaders Kaya FC-Iloilo facing Dynamic Herb Cebu FC to restart league action.
Kicking off at 3:00 PM, Kaya are gunning for a win against the side that inflicted a 2-3 win in their previous meeting last October at the Dynamic Herb Sports Complex in Cebu City.
“We’re excited to face Cebu in the Visayas Clasico,” said Kaya head coach Yu Hoshide. ““I am really excited to resume the league again. We have a strong squad and made good preparations, so hopefully we will have a good start to the league resumption.”
Kaya made changes during the transfer window with Sandro Reyes, Carlyle Mitchell, Ryo Fujii, and Shirmar Felongco leaving the club while goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad has moved to the Azkals Development Team in preparation for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games this May. However, Kaya reinforced their squad with the additions of Tamon Horikoshi, Milad Behgandom, and Dylan Nobiraki in the hopes of extending their league at the top of the table with 30 points.
Meanwhile, third placed Dynamic Herb Cebu has emerged as a title contender in the league. With 21 points, the Cebu side has claimed the scalp of Kaya with Mert Altinoz and Arda Cinkir finding the back of the net in their previous meeting.
However, changes also came for Cebu as several players have departed the club in Cinkir, Charlie Beaton, John Roy Melgo, Lorenzo Genco, Ian Miranda, John Eldian, and Rico Andes among the departures from the club. The match also has significance for head coach Mehmet Kahkil and the club’s Turkish delegation in light of recent events in Turkey after a massive earthquake affected the country.
“We’re excited for this game, but our hearts are in one with our brothers and sisters in Turkey brought on by the earthquake,” said Kahkil. “We will offer this game to them, and we hope to get a win.”