KUCHING: Kuching City FC head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak has delivered a blunt reminder to his players ahead of facing Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), saying they might as well “just play PlayStation” if they step onto the pitch without belief.
The Cats will face the Southern Tigers, in the Malaysia Cup final, which is scheduled to take place on May 23 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
Aidil stressed that football is unpredictable and warned his squad against being mentally beaten before the match even begins, especially when taking on established sides like JDT.
“Football, anything can happen. The most important thing is you work hard, and you train to win. That’s the mentality, our mindset,” he said.
He emphasised that respect for opponents must never turn into fear, insisting that preparation and attitude are more important than reputation.
“We cannot go into the game thinking Johor are a big team and we are going to lose. Then might as well we don’t play the game, we just (stay home) playing PlayStation,” Aidil added.
The Kuching City FC head coach also highlighted the importance of mentality in shaping performances, especially for younger players or those with limited experience in high-pressure matches.
“For me, this is an opportunity for the players. Some of them didn’t even get a chance to be in a final in their lifetime. So this is an opportunity — you have to prove it, and you have to work hard for it,” he said.
Aidil’s remarks come in the wake of Kuching City FC’s 2-2 draw against Brunei DPMM FC in their recent Malaysian Super League outing, a match which saw them share the points despite showing flashes of strong attacking play.
The result also served as a reminder of the need for sharper game management, something Aidil is expected to address as the team prepares for a challenging run of fixtures.
With matches against Terengganu FC, Melaka FC and KL City FC before the Cup final, Aidil’s message was clear — belief and effort will be non-negotiable if Kuching City FC are to compete at the highest level.
