KUCHING: Aidil Sharin Sahak hailed his Kuching City FC players for their relentless effort and courage against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), saying the team “gave everything” in front of an electrifying home crowd and showed how far they have come under his guidance.
Despite falling 2-1 to the Super League champions in the first leg of the FA Cup semi-final at the Sarawak State Stadium on Sunday night, the head coach said he was proud of the team’s commitment and determination to fight back even after conceding twice early in the second half.
“Like I said before, it was always going to be a tough game, but the boys gave everything tonight. Even when we were 2-0 down, they kept fighting. You could see we created so many chances, and I have to give credit to the fans for filling up the stadium.
“With the kind of atmosphere we had tonight, the boys were full of energy,” he told a post-match press conference at the Sarawak State Stadium.
Aidil also praised the team’s steady growth since he took over, noting that the club’s progress has been evident in their ability to challenge Malaysia’s top sides.
“We know how good JDT are and the quality they have, but I think we’ve shown that we can give a good fight. Kuching City is not a big team, but we are growing.
“This is only our second year under my coaching, and I believe we can get even better,” he said.
While pleased with his team’s overall display, Aidil admitted that defensive lapses cost them crucial goals and will be a key focus ahead of the return leg later this month.
“Of course, there are areas we need to improve, especially in defending. Both goals we conceded came from situations we could have managed better,” he added.
Aidil also touched briefly on a few contentious referee decisions but stressed that his side must stay positive and focused on their football.
“I respect the referee’s decision. We can’t change what happened, so the most important thing is to stay positive, learn from this match, and keep improving for the next game,” he said.
Kuching City will now travel to Johor for the second leg at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on November 29, needing a win to overturn the 2-1 deficit and keep their FA Cup dream alive.
