Kaya vs. Kaya

While working on the upcoming Manila Football Cup with Armand del Rosario and Eddie Mallari, I broached the idea of doing a Kaya alumni match against the current squad. Both Armand and Ed liked the idea that will serve not only as a treat to Kaya fans but also to share the club's rich history.

Kaya was founded in 1996 by Rudy del Rosario (no relation to Armand and Anton), Bob Kovacs, and John Rey Bela-Ong. The club at the time had Empire East as a corporate sponsor but they pulled out right before a football tournament. The club was without a name and Rudy, being a huge fan of reggae music, was staring at a Bob Marley album in front of him and his wondered aloud if "Kaya" (the title of the 1978 Bob Marley and the Wailers album that came after the masterful "Exodus") were apt. The guys liked it and a club was born. 

The alumni vs current squad game should have former Kaya stalwarts like Rudy del Rosario, Marco Nieto, Freddy Gonzalez, and Rely San Agustin to name a few playing against the current squad of Nate Burkey, Prince Boley, Saba Garmaroudi etc. 

The match will be played at the BGC turf this September 9, 2012. It will be a tune up game too right before the kick off of the new UFL season. Will have more details for you as this progresses. But man, imagine this. Kaya vs Kaya. This could be the start of an annual thing. And if this works, then how about Kaya alumni vs Loyola alumni? Here we go.