Kaya faces Malaysian squad, hostile crowd

Debutant Kaya FC will have its hands full in its historic stint in the Asian Football Confederation ( AFC) Cup Round- of- 16 as it drew defending champion Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia in a knockout encounter on May 25.

Kaya, runner-up in Group F, will also have to deal with a likely hostile crowd in the chase for a quarterfinal seat as the unbeaten Southern Tigers will enjoy home ground advantage for emerging as the topnotcher in Group H. “Excited kami kasi iyun ang pinakamalakas,

doon namin masusubok kung nasaan kami ( We’re excited to play against the strongest team in the tournament and gauge where we stand right now),” Kaya coach Joel Villarino said during a guesting on yesterday’s Football Connection program on DZSR.

Johor, the winner of the Charity Shield and the Super League crowns in Malaysia, swept its six assignments in group play to book a place in the KO stage. For its part, Kaya notched three wins, a draw and two losses in its bracket to take the No. 2 position and progress. “Obviously mataas talaga ang level nila.

Magpeprepare kami nang husto (Their level of play is really high so we’ll prepare well against them),” said Villarino.

Kaya is one of two Filipino clubs that made history by gaining entry into the AFC Cup’s Round-of-16, the other being Bacolod-based Ceres La Salle FC.

The Busmen topped Group E with an unbeaten card of three wins and three draws (12 points), in the process getting home field advantage against South China AA of Hong Kong, the runner-up from Group G, in their May 24 tussle at Panaad Stadium.

South China reached the AFC Cup quarterfinals last year. Along the way, the Hong Kong side beat Phl club Global FC twice in group play.