PETALING JAYA: Kuching City coach Aidil Sharin (pic) wants his players to savour every moment of their Malaysia Cup final appearance, insisting the underdogs have already exceeded expectations this season.
While acknowledging the immense challenge posed by Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), the Singaporean said his side would head into Saturday’s showdown at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil with belief, determination and a professional mindset.
“Pressure is always good because it pushes you to achieve your targets. But let’s not forget that our target was to reach the final. Winning would be a huge bonus,” said Aidil.
“At the start of the season, nobody expected us to finish second or even make the Malaysia Cup final, but the boys worked hard and achieved it.
“I want them to enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy the final because opportunities like this do not come often.
“This is one of the best moments for the club and I hope they give their best performance for the fans, especially those travelling all the way from Sarawak to Bukit Jalil.”
Kuching City have pushed JDT closely in previous meetings this season, losing 0-1 on Oct 28 and 1-2 on Jan 14, both Super League games and Aidil believes football’s unpredictability gives his side hope of causing an upset.
“We know JDT are a strong team and they have already proven themselves at the Asian level,” he said.
“We are humbled just to be in the final, but we will give it our best shot and hopefully things will go our way.”
Aidil, who has previously guided teams like Home United and Kedah in major domestic finals, believes his past experiences can help his players cope with the occasion.
“There are no guarantees, but I’ve grown a lot as a coach over the years,” he said.
“I’ve been in Malaysia Cup finals, Challenge Cup finals and AFC zonal finals. Every journey and every match teaches you something new.
“Hopefully, I can pass those lessons on to the boys. At the end of the day, I’m like a chef – you need the right recipe to make things work. Hopefully, it will taste good this Saturday.
“But ultimately, it’s all up to the players to enjoy the final and give everything they have.
“For some players, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Some may wait 10 years before getting another chance to play in a final.
“The result is something we cannot control, but what matters is that we go there, give our best and create history for Kuching City.”
