BLEACHERS BREW EST. MAY 2006

Someone asked me how my blog and newspaper column came to be titled "Bleachers Brew". It's like this, it's an amalgam of sorts of two things: The bleachers area in the stadium/arena where I used to sit when I would watch baseball, football, and basketball games and Miles Davis' great jazz album Bitches Brew. That's how it got culled together. I originally planned on calling it "The View from the Big Chair" that is a nod to Tears For Fear's second album, Songs from the Big Chair. So there.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Kaya ‘til the day they die: Ultras Kaya


Kaya 'til the day they die. Ultras Kaya try to lift up their club even after Kaya falls into a two-goal hole.


Kaya ‘til the day they die: Ultras Kaya
story & photos by rick olivares

There was a scrum in front of the Kaya goal. The Kaya defenders vainly tried to clear the ball away from the danger zone but Stallion forward Ruben Doctora was quicker to the ball. Doctora got a boot on the ball and it beat keeper Saba Garmaroudi for the opening goal of the match.

“Score some goals!” cries out Xerxes Garcia.

And the Ultras Kaya – all 14 present; two-thirds of the listed members present began to pogo and chant “Score some goal. Score some goals.”

It doesn’t look good for Kaya. Minutes later, Stallion doubles their lead when Bervic Italia's long range shot curves right in for a goal. Stallion’s supporters let out a loud cheer but not as loud as the Ultras Kaya who redoubled their efforts in spite of the deep hole their cherished club had fallen into.

Ultras Kaya head Xerxes Garcia
Welcome to Ultras Kaya, one of four organized booster groups of UFL club (the others being Air Force, Global, and Loyola). The group was organized in 2011 by club fans led by Garcia. The “Do-It-Yourself” spirit is prevalent among the club members. They receive no subsidy, food or material gifts from the club yet they produce their own shirts and scarves using their own money. “We’re hardcore,” smiles one group member who refused to be identified. “Hardcore.”

Garcia says not receiving anything from Kaya is fine. “No true ultras group asks for anything in return.” The acknowledgement of the players after matches is good enough for them. It’s love for the club and the game itself. Once in a while, the parents of some of the players bring over chocolates. If there’s left over bottled water or Gatorade from the match, Kaya team manager Dhen Alegre brings it over. “Of course, we’re grateful for what is given.”

Currently, there are 21 listed members of the group. During games there are always at least seven members present. Garcia and drummer Anton Pateña are the regulars. Tonight, leading them on a microphone is a young kid who looks like he should be in bed getting ready for school the following day instead of being at the Emperador Field in BGC. Ten-year old Shane Clemente by no means is a mascot. He holds his own and is deadly serious about cheering.

All ultras have 20 songs and chants to learn from. All 20 are cheered every game non-stop for the entire game (the only respite they have is during halftime). The songs and chants are mainly Eastern European based. They are posted in a private online site for the members for them to download and learn the words. “The songs and our inspiration is researched and studied. We take time to develop them to see if it works in a local setting. We have no rehearsals” says Garcia. “We expect everyone to know every word to every song and chant when they get to the stadium.”

Kaya midfielder OJ Porteria is felled just outside the box eliciting a free kick and a chance to pull back one goal. Porteria measures his shot but its high and wide. The ultras switch to their version of the Atlanta Braves’ famed “Tomahawk Chop” complete with the chopping hand gesture. It’s the closest chant they have to anything that resembles aggression. Stallion fans taunt the ultras but the Kaya booster group isn't biting. “We promote the peace and brotherhood that Kaya espouses,” clarifies Garcia. “We’re not about violence. We are about peace and love for football and Kaya. Until the day we die.”


Ultras Kaya drummer Anton Pateña



13 comments:

  1. Sir it was Italia not Albor,nasa Airforce na po si Albor.nice read..sana meron din ultras ang ibang clubs.

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  2. Nice read. Though we didn't get the result we wanted I feel the article had more impact after a loss to show the dedication and devotion the Ultras Kaya have for the club. Thanks for the feature and I believe they would appreciate it as well.

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  3. Being an Ilonggo I root for Stallions FC but watching KAYA FC play in Koronadal made me a fan. Now they are the 2 Clubs I root for in the UFL! GO Stallions! Una Kaya!

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  4. Ganda ng counter ng Kaya when Janrick Soriano scored. Ganda din ng assist ni OJ Porteria. Sayang ang header ni Daniels, equalizer dapat yon. Enjoyed watching that game on AKTV. UFL has truly evolved. Expecting more for the rest of the season and next years to come. Sana may at least 1 televised div 1 game on weekends.

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  5. Ultras Kaya, sana dumami pa kayo. yung ibang games boring panoorin, puros tili and ang tagal ng katahimikan. you and airforce ultras are the best so far. keep it up.

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    Replies
    1. We will live the Kaya Spirit...

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  6. dapat ganito . manalo matalo suporta parin . hindi sinusuportahan lng kapag nanalo ang team

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  7. eto ang sumusuporta sa club, hindi sumusuporta dahil pogi ang mga players

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  8. I usually hear complain from football fans in the stadium that gets annoyed by the unending cheer of Ultras Kaya, but not me. I actually admire them. It takes a lot to cheer the entire game. And their cheers are very contagious.

    A bit sorry about the Stallion fans who started taunting UK and the Kaya players. I believe they are new to the league.

    One thing that somehow irritates me though is when they sing "Kaya FC kong Mahal" which obviously is adapted from "Pilipinas kong Mahal". It is a patriotic song (why I get their logic for using it) i feel disrespect for a song that can be considered second to our anthem. I would really appreciate if they stop using it but I can't force them. It's just my opinion.

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    1. Sa aking papanaw kapatid, Kung wala namang nilalabag, wala namang masama...

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    2. Those who complain are bandwagon fans. Screw them.

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    3. Hey Drew M. you are an uneducated @$$. they checked with the national historical institute if they could use that use the tune and template of "Pilipinas kong mahal" and guess what you uneducated opinionated commenter: the rules and guidelines were in their favor.

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    4. So much for brotherhood and peace, eh boys? Kaya spirit ftw!

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