With Yu, With Kaya: The Journey Continues Following a dominant season opener, Kaya’s Head Coach outlines his vision for a more cohesive, more dynamic team.
Kaya FC-Iloilo kicked off the new Philippines Football League season with an emphatic 12-0 victory against Philippine Army FC, a statement win that signaled the club’s ambition to defend their title for a fourth straight year. With a challenging campaign ahead, featuring a revamped domestic league and continental competition, Head Coach Yu Hoshide shared his insights on the team’s development, new signings, and what supporters can look forward to this year.
After guiding the team to a three-peat last season—while simultaneously juggling the ASEAN Club Championship (Shopee Cup) and AFC Champions League Two campaigns—Coach Yu reflected on lessons learned, the squad’s growth, and his vision for the road ahead.
“Despite the very tough schedule last season, we were able to win the title, and I am truly grateful to all the team members, supporters, and fans,” he began, noting that it was about more than just winning. “By going through not only the good times but also the difficult times together, our teamwork and trust have grown even stronger.”
According to Coach Yu, those shared challenges, combined with the exposure to continental-level football, have laid the foundation for the team to reach new heights. “I think it was great that the young players and the new signings were able to gain experience in international matches. That experience, I truly believe, is a valuable asset for the team.”
When asked how Kaya has evolved over time after three consecutive titles, he highlighted the team’s growing depth and resilience. “Although there are still challenges and areas for improvement, I feel that we now have more players who can step up and deliver when it’s a really tight game. That comes from the experience they gained in international competitions.”
The Japanese tactician added that despite several key departures, the integration of the new signings and the stability provided by the team’s championship core have been vital to this ongoing evolution. “As the team continues to grow more dynamic, I believe that player rotation is an important factor. The players who have been with us also draw inspiration from the new ones, and even I myself have learned a lot from them. Little by little, our communication and combinations are improving.”
Kaya’s success in recent seasons has been built on an aggressive, yet composed style of play, but Coach Yu is determined to take things a step further. “Every year, we need to keep upgrading ourselves. Last year, we played with real aggressiveness. This season, in addition to that aggressiveness, I hope we can play in a more dynamic way and deliver a style of football that the players and the fans can truly enjoy.”
For those same fans that continue to passionately back the club, Coach Yu offered a simple yet powerful message of gratitude and ambition. “Thank you always for your support. We want to create history in Philippine football, and with that goal in mind, we have already started training since July to take on new challenges. We hope that, even in a small way, we can show you good matches, and we will do our best to make that happen.”
Kaya FC-Iloilo will return to action after the international break with a showdown against the refreshed and rebranded Aguilas-UMAK on September 13 at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
