Kaya F.C.–Iloilo (women)

Kaya Futbol Club, commonly referred to as Kaya Women's, is a Filipino women's professional football club affiliated with Kaya F.C.–Iloilo.

Kaya–Iloilo

Full name	Kaya Women's Futbol Club-Iloilo
Nickname(s)	The Mighty Kaya
Short name	KAY
Founded	2019; 5 years ago (2019)
Ground	Iloilo Sports Complex
Capacity	7,000
Owner	Una Kaya Futbol Club, Inc.
Chairman	Santi Araneta
Head coach	Let Dimzon
League	PFF Women's League
2023	PFF Women's League, 1st of 10 (champions)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

History

Kaya was the only Philippines Football League (PFL) club that fielded in the 2016–17 inaugural season of the PFF Women's League.^[1] However, they withdrew midseason.^[2][3]

In 2019, Kaya officially formed a women's team.^[4] The seven-a-side team competed in the inaugural season of the 7's Football League Women's Division, where they finished runners-up.^[5][6][7]

Kaya Women's completed their first eleven-a-side campaign, as well as their international debut, at the 2022 SingaCup's Women Football Championship in Singapore. They swept the tournament, beating the Lion City Sailors women's team, Phranakorn, and Persib Putri.^[8][9][10]

Kaya returned to the PFF Women's League for the 2023 season. For that season, there was a knock-out stage. Kaya was able to reach the final where it contended the title against Manila Digger. Kaya emerged as the victor through a single goal,^[11] becoming the first ever club team to win the PFF Women's League. The preceding editions were clinched by collegiate sides, De La Salle.^[12]

Crest and colors

Kaya Women's wear the same crest and colors as the men's team. The club's home color is yellow.

The club's colors: yellow, red, green and black, are based on the pan-African colors associated with Rastafari due to the influence of Reggae in the club's founding members' lives.^[13] The 31 stars on the crest are a tribute to Kaya Men's co-founder John-Rey "Lupoy" Bela-ong, who was killed in a robbery at age 31.^[14]

Players

As of October 16, 2022

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   PHI Inna Palacios 2 GK   PHI Kimberly Parina 4 DF   PHI Mea Bernal 5 DF   PHI Hali Long (captain) 7 FW   PHI Alisha del Campo (guest player) 9 FW   PHI Irish Navaja 10 MF   PHI Anicka Castañeda (guest player) 16 MF   PHI Charisa Lemoran 18   PHI Marigen Ariel 19   PHI Tiffany Siy 20 DF   PHI Chelo Hodges

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 MF   PHI Rocelle Mendaño 22 GK   PHI Kaye Dacanay 24 FW   PHI Shelah Mae Cadag 27   PHI Katrina Magbitang 28   PHI Suet Simoy 35 FW   PHI Dionesa Tolentin 36   PHI Jonela Albiño 38   PHI Carmela Altiche 71   PHI Zhyrelle Belluga — MF   PHI Sophia Lyttle

Source: SingaCup Women Football Championship 2022^[15]

Personnel

As of October 2022

Position	Name
Head coach	Let Dimzon
Assistant coach	Merian Ronquillo
Team manager	Ramon Almeda

Honors

Domestic

League

• PFF Women's League
  • Winners (1): 2023

International

Cups

• SingaCup
  • Winners (1): 2022^[9]

Records

Main domestic competitions

Season	Teams	League Position	PFF Women's Cup
2016–17	11	N/A (withdrew)	N/A (not held)
2022–23	10	1st (regular season)	3rd
		1st (final season)

Invitational tournaments

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Score		Agg. / Pos.
				Home	Away
2022	SingaCup Women Football Championship	Group Stage	Lion City Sailors	3–1	Champion
			Phranakorn FC	6–0
			Persib Bandung Putri	8–0

References

1. "PFF WOMEN'S LEAGUE KICKS OFF". Philippine Football Federation. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
2. Njang, Lerche (July 16, 2017). . thesportscol.com. The Sports Column. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
3. Montayre, Mia (November 7, 2016). "Historic PFF Women's League set to launch". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
4. . The Daily Guardian. July 23, 2019. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
5. . The Daily Guardian. September 7, 2019. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
6. . stallionfcphil.com. Stallion Laguna F.C. December 31, 2019. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021. ...the ladies of Stallion-Hiraya FC bagged the Philam Life 7's Football League Women's title by defeating Kaya FC Women's 1-0.
7. De la Peña, Leobert Julian A. (January 4, 2020). . The Daily Guardian. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
8. . ABS-CBN News. October 22, 2022. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
9. Del Carmen, Lorenzo (October 21, 2022). . Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
10. Verora, Levi Joshua Jr. (October 27, 2022). "How Kaya FC's winning campaign in Singapore benefits women's football". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
11. Terrado, Reuben (November 12, 2023). "Kaya FC-Iloilo captures 2023 PFF Women's League title". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
12. Payo, Jasmine (November 11, 2023). "Numero uno: Kaya FC claims first PFF Women's League title". Rappler. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
13. "David Perković". HansOn. Season 1. Episode 12. January 27, 2014. News Media Factory. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
14. Guerrero, Bob (March 7, 2016). . Rappler. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
15. "Kaya-Iloilo Futbol Club team sheet". singacup.com. SingaCup. October 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.