KUALA LUMPUR: Kuching City coach Aidil Sharin Sahak has someone special to turn to for advice when the pressure of a major final begins to build.
As the Cats prepare for battle against Johor Darul Ta’zim in the Malaysia Cup final tonight, the 48-year-old Singaporean is seeking the guidance and support of his elder brother, Aide Iskandar.
Aide, a three-time AFF Cup winner and the seventh most-capped player in Singapore, has long been an influential figure in Aidil’s life and career.
Aidil, however, chose to keep details of their conversations private.
“Aide is my big brother. We played together in the past, including the national team as well. Now we are at a different phase of life in our coaching careers,” said Aidil during the pre-match press conference at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
“I always look up to him and ask for a lot of advice. He is doing well in life, and I look up to him in every aspect, not just football.
“Although he won’t be at the final, his words will always stay with me.”
Aidil also reflected on the club’s remarkable rise under his leadership since 2023 after arriving with a long-term vision for success.
“When I first came here, I made a promise to the management to take Kuching City to greater heights. It happened in two years, although the original plan was three. Credit goes to the players,’’ he said.
“We have spoken about how quickly everything happened. We just have to be grateful.”
Despite lacking star names, Aidil believes the club’s unity and professionalism have been the foundation of their success.
“The players have been massively professional and the unity has always been there. Reaching this stage is definitely not easy.”
Aidil also stressed the importance of composure when taking on one of Asia’s strongest teams in the Malaysia Cup final.
“I always trust my players. They are excited, but they must not be overly excited and make mistakes. In the first 15 to 20 minutes, they need to settle down and adapt to the atmosphere and pressure,” he added.
“I always say we cannot control results, but what we can control is our performance.
“We want to show why we deserve to finish second, why we deserve to be in the final and why we deserve the AFC Champions League Two spot.”
