KUCHING: Not even a cold, windy, rain-soaked night could dampen the spirit of Hope FC as they battled their way to a gritty 1-0 win over KB FC in the Liga Bandaraya Amateur season opener.
The clash at a slippery, soaked pitch made for a scrappy affair — but Hope FC rose to the challenge, showing composure and heart from start to finish.
Player-manager Bryan Cheong, who helped steered the win from the side-lines, praised his team for adapting to the testing conditions.
“The main message was to get the first goal and play smart based on the conditions. We knew it was going to be messy because of the weather — and it was — but the boys dug deep and got the job done,” he told Sarawak Tribune when contacted on Monday (Apr 14).
The breakthrough came courtesy of forward Denilson Dylan Demendra, who slotted home the match-winning goal in the 12th minute, sparking celebrations on the touchline.
“Everyone’s buzzing and hungry for more! The key now is to take things one game at a time and give our best each match. This is just the beginning,” Cheong added.
Midfield dynamo Damian Unting earned Man of the Match honours after a commanding performance that helped anchor the team through the storm.
Hope FC now shift their focus to their next test — a showdown against Fadzio FC this Saturday, 7.45pm at Padang C, Petra Jaya.
