Kaya to host AFC Cup in Busmen’s Bacolod venue

MANILA, Philippines — Panaad Stadium will be buzzing with activities in the coming AFC Cup as it serves as home not only for Ceres Negros FC but also for Kaya Iloilo.

In a statement, Kaya announced hosting their AFC Cup matches at Busmen’s home stadium in nearby Bacolod after its very own hub, the Iloilo Sports Complex, failed to meet the AFC’s requirements for the international club football meet.

“The club wanted nothing more than to bring AFC Cup football to the Iloilo Sports Complex (ISC), but despite exhausting all efforts to prepare the venue, ISC remains short of the stadium standards required to host an AFC contest,” the reigning Philippine Cup titlist said.

“Currently, the only available AFC-approved stadium in the Philippines is Panaad Stadium, and the Negros Occidental government, along with Ceres Negros, have been gracious in welcoming us,” it added.

Kaya Iloilo, which will compete again in the Asian meet after a three-year absence, will stage three of their six games in Group H at home. 

After their kickoff on the road against Lao Toyota on Feb. 27, the Iloilo booters will host Singapore’s Home United on Mar. 13, Indonesia’s PSM Makassar on April 17 and Lao Toyota on April 30. 

“The team still intends to train in Iloilo in the lead up to our AFC Cup games, and the club would like to invite all our supporters to make the short trip with us from Iloilo to Bacolod,” said the club, which thanked the Iloilo provincial government for its efforts to upgrade ISC.