KUCHING: Transparency, accountability and structured leadership have been the cornerstones of Kuching City FC’s steady rise.
Club chairman, Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, believes a corporate-style approach has helped the team perform beyond expectations in the national football scene.
Fazzrudin said his approach was clear from the outset: to build Kuching City FC not just as a football team, but as a professional and well-managed organisation.
“As I said on the very first day I took the helm at Kuching City FC, I viewed it as a corporate entity where the most important things are transparency and accountability.
“Those are the two most important principles I’ve applied from day one when we formed Kuching City FC,” he said.
These principles, he explained, became the foundation for how the club was structured and operated.
From the start, he said, the management team was carefully selected not just for their experience, but for their ability to carry out specific roles effectively.
“Each member of the management team was given their own responsibilities to ensure their roles are carried out properly.
“When I place someone in the right role, he or she excels. And when they excel, the club excels,” he said.
Fazzrudin credited the club’s success to this team-based approach, stating that no single person can achieve progress alone.
“I alone would not be able to achieve this. It’s all about team effort,” he told reporters when met at the soft launch of the Metro City Convention Centre (MCCC) in Matang on Friday.
The results speak for themselves, as the club continues to earn praise for both its on-field performance and responsible financial management off the field.
The Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, praised Kuching City FC for their effective football management during a question-and-answer session with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) fans in Johor Bahru earlier this year.
He highlighted the club’s ability to maximise limited resources despite operating on a smaller budget.
Despite the positive momentum, Fazzrudin stressed that the journey is far from over.
While the team has made meaningful progress, its development remains focused and measured.
“It’s a step-by-step process. We’re not sprinting to the finish line.
“We take things one step at a time, constantly correcting mistakes and learning along the way,” he said.
Looking ahead to the 2025/2026 season, the club has set a clear benchmark: to finish in the top five of the Malaysia Super League.
However, Fazzrudin also shared a bigger dream.
“Our target next year is to finish in the top five.
“But the dream … the dream is to win a cup. Whether it’s the Malaysia Cup or the FA Cup – that’s our hope,” he said.
Kuching City FC ended their 2024/2025 season in fourth place with 39 points – registering ten wins, nine draws and five losses.
