KUCHING: From People’s Football League beginnings to Malaysia Cup finalists, Kuching City FC’s rise reflects years of steady development in Sarawak football, according to former head coach Ideris Untong.
Ideris, who played a key role in building the club during its early years as Kuching FA, said the Cats’ journey has been shaped by gradual progression through Malaysia’s football pyramid, beginning with their breakthrough as People’s Football League (LBR) champions in 2016.
He said the team then competed in the FAM League from 2016 to 2017, progressed to the M3 League between 2018 and 2019, earned promotion to the Premier League in 2020, and eventually reached the Malaysia Super League in 2021.
“From the beginning, the objective was to build a competitive team, and now the club has grown and become better,” he told Sarawak Tribune recently.
Ideris said the rise was never easy, with each level demanding greater professionalism, stronger squads and improved structure.
According to him, the journey from grassroots football to the top tier proves that long-term planning and consistency are vital for success.
“It is not easy for players to reach this stage, especially with the level of competition in Malaysian football being so strong.
“In a final, everything is different, including the expectations from observers,” he said.
Still, Ideris believes football remains unpredictable and that Kuching City have every chance of upsetting favourites Johor Darul Ta’zim if the players execute their game plan well.
Now seeing the club compete in its first Malaysia Cup final, he described the achievement as a proud moment for Sarawak football and proof of how far the project has come since its early years.
He added that the breakthrough should inspire future generations and show that teams outside the traditional powerhouses can rise through determination and proper development.
Kuching City will face JDT in the Malaysia Cup final on Saturday (May 23), carrying the hopes of Sarawak supporters as they look to complete another remarkable chapter in the club’s rise.
