Kaya
reunion match to trot out good vibes and who’s who in Philippine football
by rick olivares
Kaya was formed in 1996 out of a loose
gathering of friends who happened to play football. There was a sprinkling of
national and college players as well as friends of friends.
The starting eleven?
“It was the first eleven players who
showed up,” laughed Rudy del Rosario, one of three founding fathers of the
16-year old football club.
Christopher Hagedorn, who first used
to kick the ball around with Del Rosario and company when they trained at the
old International School of Manila campus in Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, is now
one of the club’s owners. He recalled that joining fees for tournaments would
cost three thousand pesos. “Now it’s so much more than that in the UFL,” he
laughed.
“During those crazy years, the only
people who would be watching us play in Ateneo, Nomads, or ULTRA would be the
girlfriends, wives, or children of the players,” recounted Rudy. “And the
trees. And Rick Olivares.”
Back in those alternative 1990s, the
late PFF General Secretary Chris Monfort would officially tell the team to wear
matching socks but privately, he got a kick out of the red and green socks that
the players used to wear.
The bright colors of the club evoked
family, fun, and good times. Hagedorn would tell you that the club’s name is
derived from the Filipino word that means “can do it” but Del Rosario would
snicker and with a mischievous smile on his lips, tell grinning media men
gathered round to listen to these grizzled football veterans to “listen to the
lyrics of Bob Marley’s song ‘Kaya’”.
“We’re all wholesome here,” interjects
Hagedorn as a form of mild protest. “Very family.”
On September 9, 2012, that family will
get together in an incredible reunion of past, present and perhaps future Kaya
players in an exhibition and pre-season match at the BGC Turf at 8pm. It’s not
for charity. It’s a testament to the club’s longevity, staying power, and well,
impassioned history.
“Now you’re going to make me work,”
laughs Hagedorn when thinking about recruiting the old boys.
The news of the reunion match has
spread like wildfire and elicited excitement not seen in a while. “Good vibes,”
added Armand del Rosario who Hagedorn calls the oldest player current plying
his trade in the UFL. Del Rosario protests, “there are guys in the military
teams who are older than time.”
To recreate the original team would be
quite a feat – there was Sherlock Cordova at goal, John Rey Bela-Ong, Bob
Kovac, Gil Talavera, Lloyd Lim, Wek Wek Bronda, Jade Bejemino, Jing Jambre,
Ogie Bautista, Marbon Gonzales, Frenchman Bruno Vergnes, Nichi Severino, -- as
some now live abroad while Lim has passed away. But nevertheless the reunion
has forced even team owner Phil Hagedorn to put on his goalkeeper’s gloves.
“His presence will fill the goal,” laughed current team manager Ramon Araneta.
“But if he cannot continue, Rely San Agustin will take his place. Rely’s in
shape, right?”
For the reunion match, fans will get
to see former players who have gone on to success in other clubs like Badz and
Izzo El Habbib now with Global, Freddy Gonzalez and Alvin Ocampo who are with
newly promoted Pachanga, and Tating Pasilan who is with Green Archers United to
name a few. Aly Go, now with the Bacolod-based Builders FC will fly in for the
match. Hopefully, current Air Force net minder Tats Mercado will show up as
well.
“Now if we can get Kovac (who is now
based in Thailand where he formed his own Kaya club), that will be perfect,”
added Rudy Del Rosario.
The old Kaya teams (prior to being
under the Football Alliance) were three-time UFL champions (2002, 2003, and
2009), four-time Alaska Cup titleholders, the first-ever Chris Monfort Cup
champions, and the current Kia Cup winners.
“There’s quite a few more,” noted
Hagedorn but those mentioned are the ones I am truly proud of.
The exhibition match will pit the
current Kaya team with Nate Burkey, Prince Boley, Jonah Romero, Jason Sabio, Saba
Garmaroudi, and new signing Fil-Am Anton Ugarte against the veteran squad.
Current team head coach, Kale Alvarez, the fourth coach in the club’s history
after Hans Smit, Juan Cutillas and Rudy Del Rosario, “will play a few minutes
for the veterans.”
With the massive number of Kaya alumni
expected to show up at the BGC Turf next Sunday who will start?
“Whoever shows up first,” laughed
Rudy. “It is a Kaya tradition after all.”
Kick off for the Kaya
veterans vs. Kaya FC is at 8pm rain or shine and barring any thunderstorms. Admission
is free. BYOB.
There will be Kaya merchandise on sale at the BGC!
I am really excited about this match. It's a dream for me to be able to organize this along with some club players. What Rudy said is true. I would watch the old UFL, Ang Liga, and what have you leagues when I wasn't busy. I would usually go with the Loyola team to watch the games in Ateneo, Nomads, ULTRA, or San Beda. I saw guys like Rudy Del Rosario, Norman Fegidero Jr., Alvin Ocampo play and that is why when we were organizing the Clear Dream Match, I threw Rudy's name (with his permission) in the hat. When people talk about how football is popular today, they have no idea how these people blazed a trail for what there is today. This is my way of showing everyone the roots of a club like Kaya. That there's a history, a longevity, and definitely, an incredible story to this. Armand Del Rosario and Eddie Mallari are old friends dating the way to when we at Solar Sports used to cover the Azkals when no one would. To be able to organize this with these friends and with the incredible help and support by Santi & Ramon Araneta and Phil & Chris Hagedorn is amazing. Sunday!
Kaya says IF YOU LIKE THE CLUB GO LIKE THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE THAT HAS OVER 32,000 LIKES. And watch the reunion game and their UFL games!
Great article! I would like to clarify though that John Rey Bela-Ong (Lupoy) was killed sometime ago, while he was working as an assistant coach in the University of Asia and the Pacific. Rudy del Rosario was head coach then.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!