KUCHING: The “good feeling” surrounding Kuching City FC’s remarkable progress is something Sarawakians hope will continue, as the club’s success demonstrates the impact of strong leadership and effective management.
He said the club’s rise to the Malaysia Cup final and qualification for the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) reflected the importance of strong leadership and effective management.
Speaking at a press conference at his office today (June 5) in Baitulmakmur Building II, Abdul Karim said the club’s achievements were remarkable considering Kuching City FC is only about a decade old.
“We feel very grateful to see the performance of Kuching City FC in a very short period of time, only 10 years. In a very short period of time, it has reached the final stage of the Malaysia Cup and is able to qualify for ASEAN club competition. That is a very, very big achievement,” he said.
However, he stressed that success on the field is not solely dependent on financial resources, but on how a club is managed.
“You can dump millions and millions, even hundreds of millions into a club or association. If it is not managed properly, it will never be able to achieve success,” he said.
Abdul Karim contrasted Kuching City FC’s progress with the struggles faced by football administration in the past, noting that support for the sport has always been available.
“The government’s support for football has always been there. But what is important is how that support is managed and utilised,” he said.
He credited the leadership of Kuching City FC president Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman and his management team for creating a professional environment that has enabled the club to flourish.
“We can see that the leadership by YB Datuk Fazzrudin and his team is very good. We hope that the good feeling that we are having now will continue,” he said.
According to Abdul Karim, Kuching City FC has evolved beyond being merely a club from the state capital, becoming a team embraced by football fans throughout Sarawak.
“People in Sarawak see Kuching City FC not only as a Kuching team, but also as a Sarawak team. It is Sarawak’s team,” he said.
