Kuching: Kuching City FC head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak believes Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) are not unbeatable and says his side have every reason to believe they can challenge the Southern Tigers in the 2025-2026 Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here tomorrow night.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kuala Lumpur City FC's 2-0 victory over JDT in the 2021 Malaysia Cup final at the same venue had shown that even the country's dominant side could be overcome on the big stage, adding that belief and hard work would be crucial for his players.
Aidil Sharin emphasized that Kuching City were not travelling to the final merely to make up the numbers but to compete and give their supporters from Sarawak a performance to be proud of. He noted the importance of belief and hard work, stating that although they could not control the result, they were determined to give their best effort and not disappoint the Sarawak fans who traveled to watch the match.
Meanwhile, captain James Okwuosa highlighted the unpredictability of football, asserting that anything could happen in 90 minutes. He stressed that Kuching City's focus was on creating a historic victory rather than merely reaching the final. He echoed the coach's sentiments about competing and demonstrating their capabilities, underlining that any team could be defeated in the duration of a match.
Okwuosa mentioned that the team was concentrating on their overall performance rather than putting excessive attention on stopping JDT's attacking players. He explained that focusing too much on certain players could be detrimental, as football involves competitors with a variety of skills and abilities.
JDT are chasing their sixth Malaysia Cup title after winning the competition in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, and the 2024/2025 season, while Kuching City have the opportunity to create history by lifting the trophy for the first time. The match will be officiated by four high-profile match officials from Qatar, as part of the Malaysian Football League's effort to ensure officiating standards are at the highest level, reflecting the prestige of Malaysia's oldest and most prestigious football competition.