Kaya FC sets up women's team

Kaya FC is setting up a women's team

Off the backdrop of the recently concluded FIFA Women's World Cup, and with the Philippines' work in the recent Olympic Qualifiers moving them up their best-ever ranking, women's football is on the up and up.

And with this wave of awareness and recognition, Kaya Futbol Club is about to ride it.

The team officially announced its intent to establish its senior women's team, making the first step by tapping current Senior Women's National Team head coach Marnelli Dimzon as its first head coach.

As a player, she won three titles with Far Eastern University, and spent a decade playing midfield for the national team. Moving into coaching, she led FEU to four UAAP titles, while also taking the help of the U-14 Girls to a runner-up finish in AFF regional play. In taking the helm of the national team, she shepherded the team in being a whisker away from FIFA Women's World Cup qualification, as well as getting the team into the second round of Qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Compared to its Men's and Youth sides, both of which have been able to participate in competitions here and abroad, they will be starting from the ground up with its women's team.

General Manager Paul Tolentino shares, "Because we are late in entering this segment of football, we needed to show our serious intentions to this endeavor. It’s important to make clear that we’re committed to making this as successful as possible."

He adds, "Watching the Women’s World Cup made me ask, ‘What were we doing not providing an avenue for women’s football?’  It became glaringly obvious that a club of Kaya’s caliber, which competes continentally as well as domestically, should be involved in bringing our structure and passion to this area of the game. We needed to get our act together and get this off the ground immediately."

Tapping Dimzon, the club believes, reflects their intentions. Tolentino says, "Her being a successful national team player, and now coach, is an exciting prospect for us."

Aside from naming Dimzon as their head coach, Kaya FC has also set up its initial date for tryouts, scheduling it on Thursday night, July 25, at the BGC Turf between 6-8pm.

With a coach now under their belt, the search now is for the players, one that Tolentino believes should "embody the club culture," and could compete in the available leagues.

With the PFF Women's League already set to start soon, Tolentino is potentially eyeing competing in the likes of the 7s Football League to get themselves ready.