KUCHING: Aidil Sharin Sahak has voiced support for the possibility of Yuki Tanigawa representing Malaysia in the future, while acknowledging the decision ultimately rests with the national team setup and the player himself.
The Kuching City FC head coach described the Japanese defender as one of the club’s “unsung heroes”, praising his consistency and professionalism over the past few seasons.
Aidil revealed that Yuki was initially deployed as a defensive midfielder before being converted into a centre-back after his arrival in Kuching.
“Before I came here, he was a defensive midfielder. I transferred him to centre-back and I think he has done massively well for the last two seasons.
“He’s the unsung hero nobody sees. He has been performing every season with a very low salary,” he told at a press conference recently.
In December 2023, Kuching City announced a contract extension for Yuki, reflecting the club’s long-term faith in the defender after years of loyal service and consistent performances.
“This is why we tried to reward him to motivate him more. Of course it’s not a huge salary, but we gave him a new contract for three years in Kuching,” Aidil added.
When asked about the possibility of Yuki being naturalised to play for Malaysia, the head coach said he would support the move if the national team showed interest.
“If you ask me for support, definitely I will support the Malaysia national team.
“But it depends on the head coach whether he wants him or not, and it also depends on Yuki himself because of his Japanese passport,” he added.
Aidil noted that the matter is also a major personal decision for the player, who has settled down in Malaysia with his family.
“He is married and has got a kid, a son now, so it is a huge decision for him to make also,” he said.
Yuki first joined Kuching City in 2020 during the club’s Premier League campaign before a brief stint with Kelantan United.
He returned to Kuching City in 2022 and has since become a key figure in the club’s rise in Malaysian football.
