Be patient, soccer is ‘a marathon’: Kuching City FC Coach

KUCHING: Kuching City FC need to look beyond short-term results and trust the process as they navigate a demanding season, with head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak reminding his side that football is a marathon, not a short journey.

The reminder came after The Cats lost 2-3 to DPMM FC last night (Oct 18), missing the chance to move into second place in the Super League.

The Cats’ gaffer said managing his 30-man squad requires balancing playing opportunities with adequate rest.

Asked about playing time, including that of new signing Safawi Rasid, Aidil said squad rotation was part of his long-term plan.

Kuching City defender Gabriel Peres is sandwiched by between the DPMM FC defenders. Photo: Kuching City FC

“Everyone needs to play and needs to rest. Football is all about marathon, it’s not about short journey,” he said.

His message reflects the challenge of maintaining consistency across a season in which squad depth and player management can be just as important as individual results.

Kuching City fell behind in the fifth minute when Dalberto Luan Belo headed home Muhammad Farris Izdiham Awang Kechik’s cross, but Dylan Wenzel-Halls equalised with a curling free kick in the 27th minute.

Wenzel-Halls struck again two minutes after the break, with VAR confirming his goal to give The Cats a 2-1 lead.

However, Petrus Shitembi’s second yellow card in the 60th minute left Kuching City with 10 men. DPMM took advantage, with Muhammad Azwan Ali Rahman equalising from a free kick before Luan Belo scored again in the 65th minute to seal a 3-2 victory.

Despite the defeat, Aidil found positives in his players’ response after the dismissal, particularly their willingness to continue attacking rather than retreating into a defensive shape.

“Even though we played 10 men, the team looked very positive. They go forward, they don’t sit back,” he said after the match.

Aidil added that Kuching City had continued to play their usual attacking game despite being a player down, while acknowledging DPMM’s efforts to contain them.

“Credit to DPMM for stopping us, and good defending,” he said.

The loss ended The Cats’ eight-match unbeaten run in domestic competitions and was their second Super League defeat this season, following a 0-3 loss to Johor Darul Ta’zim.

The result cost Kuching City a chance to move into second, but Aidil stressed the importance of consistency throughout the campaign.

The Cats must now learn from the setback, manage their squad wisely and stay focused on the long-term goal.