Make Stadium Taha Ariffin a fortress

KUCHING : Kuching City FC head coach, Aidil Sharin Sahak wants Stadium Taha Ariffin to become a fortress where visiting teams fear taking the field.

Aidil said the support of fans and players’ families would be important in creating a strong home atmosphere as The Cats continue their campaign across multiple competitions.

“I’m very pleased with the fans supporting, the family supporting, and we want every team, like I said before the game, to see this as a fortress stadium so that anyone who steps in here will be afraid,” he said after Kuching City defeated Kelantan City FC 4-1 in the FA Cup quarter-final second leg last night (Oct 10).

The victory secured Kuching City’s place in the semi-finals after the first leg in Kota Bharu ended in a goalless draw.

Aidil also expressed satisfaction with the performances of several players who had not featured regularly, saying they had demonstrated their quality and determination to challenge for starting places.

He stressed that players needed time to adapt to a team’s system, even at the highest level, pointing out that Kuching City had played only nine to 10 matches together in the current campaign.

“Let’s not forget, even top players need one season to adapt to the system. This is only about nine or 10 games, and the boys who have not been playing regularly proved their quality tonight,” he said.

Aidil added that competition for places was healthy for the squad, particularly with a demanding schedule requiring consistent performances from every player.

The Cats will need their squad depth as they balance domestic commitments with regional competitions, making it essential for every player to remain ready when called upon.

“We have so many games back to back, and we need everyone to always be on par and performing at a high level,” he said.

Fans turn out in full force to cheer on Kuching City FC at Stadium Taha Ariffin.

Kuching City FC fans show their unwavering support for The Cats during the FA Cup quarter-final clash against Kelantan City FC.