Kuching City Football Club, simply known as Kuching City, is a professional football club based in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia that plays in the Malaysia Super League. It is also the youngest club to join the highest level of the Malaysian football league system, having been founded in 2015.[2] It is the third professional football club based in the state of Sarawak.

Kuching City
Full nameKuching City Football Club
Nickname(s)Il Gatto (The Cats)
Short nameKCC
Founded2015; 9 years ago (2015), as Kuching FA
2021; 3 years ago (2021), as Kuching City
GroundSarawak Stadium
Capacity40,000
Co-ownerFazzrudin Abdul Rahman
Kamaludin Akil
CEOIswandi Ali Hassan[1]
Head coachAidil Sharin Sahak
LeagueMalaysia Super League
2023MSL, 13th of 14
Websitehttps://kuchingcityfc.com/index.php
Current season

History

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In 2015, with the commencement of the People Football League introduced by the Football Association of Malaysia, the purpose of the league was to transform lower leagues in Malaysia and promote amateur football in all districts and states across Malaysia.[3][4] Consequently, Kuching F.A. was founded alongside it to represent the district of Kuching in Sarawak.

FAM Cup

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In the 2015–16 Liga Bolasepak Rakyat, Kuching won the inaugural edition[5] after beating Padang Besar 3–1 at the Selayang Stadium. With the championship, Kuching got an automatic promotion into the 2017 Piala FAM.

In their first season in FAM League, Kuching achieved 4th place in Group B, qualifying the team for the play-offs. They were knocked out in the quarter-final stage by UKM F.C., which later gained promotion to 2018 Malaysia Premier League as finalist of the play-offs. Kuching's second season in the FAM League saw them in the 4th place in Group A, the same as previous season. Unfortunately, changes in the play-off qualifying saw them miss out on the knock-out stage as only top two teams of each group chosen. Kuching were registered to play in the 2019 Malaysia FAM Cup, but were also invited by FAM to play in the 2019 Malaysia Premier League, as a number of teams pull out from the league.[6]

After announcing their promotion to the 2020 Malaysia Premier League, Kuching changed their kit to a new one to kick start their new journey, the colours are green with white stripes and "City of Unity" is written in the middle of the kit. The following season, they added ''City'' to back of Kuching.

First cup final

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Kuching City reach promotion to 2023 Malaysia Super League for the first time in history after the MFL License have been approved for the 2023 season. On 2 August 2023, former Singaporean legend, Aidil Sharin Sahak was announced as the new head coach of the club signing Namibia captain, Petrus Shitembi and Tajikistani midfielder Nuriddin Davronov. Aidil Sharin guided the club to a great run in the 2023 MFL Challenge Cup winning 4–0 on aggregate against his former club, Kedah Darul Aman in the quarter-finals, a 3–1 on aggregate against Kelantan United in the semi-finals which saw the club first ever cup final in their history.

Crest and colours

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Kuching's crest has a yellow shield and the flag of Sarawak where the club originated from, and a green-white stripped tiger. "City of Unity" is written in the middle of the crest.

Crest

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Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

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Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2017–2023 Starsport LSC & Kuching City of Unity
LSC, Yakult & Kuching City of Unity
Serba Dinamik, LSC & Yakult

Players

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First-team squad

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As of 8 March 2024[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   MAS Ahmad Uzair Zaidil[8]
2 DF   MAS Jimmy Raymond[9]
3 DF   MAS Rodney Celvin[10]
6 DF   MAS Arif Fadzilah (on loan from Terengganu[11])
7 FW   CIV Kipré Tchétché[12]
9 DF   MAS Adam Shreen[13]
10 MF   NAM Petrus Shitembi[14]
11 FW   MAS Shamie Iszuan[15]
12 MF   MAS Abang Azri[16]
13 DF   MAS Dzulazlan Ibrahim[17]
14 FW   MAS Amir Amri[18]
17 MF   MAS Alauddin Farid[19]
18 FW   MAS Zahrul Nizwan[20]
19 DF   MAS Arham Khussyairi[21]
20 GK   MAS Shaiful Wazizi[22]
21 MF   MAS Danial Amier (on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim[23])
22 DF   MAS Hariz Mansor[24]
23 FW   MAS Amirrul Iqmal[25]
25 MF   BHR Moses Atede
27 DF   MAS Filemon Anyie[26]
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 FW   GHA Jordan Mintah[27]
29 FW   TLS Pedro Henrique Gois[28]
33 FW   MAS Hazwan Bakri
35 DF   NGA James Okwuosa[29]
37 FW   MAS Ramadhan Saifullah (on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
38 GK   MAS Wan Azraie[30]
40 DF   MAS Iskandar Shah
41 DF   MAS Aiman Joanny
44 MF   MAS Alif Hassan (captain[31])
50 MF   MAS Diego Baggio[32]
55 GK   MAS Shahril Saa'ri[33]
64 DF   MAS Badrul Hisham
71 FW   MAS Rahim Razak[34]
77 DF   JPN Yuki Tanigawa[35]
88 FW   MAS Zharmein Ashraf[36]
91 MF   BRA Luis Fernando Welter
99 FW   GUY Keanu Marsh-Brown[37]

Other players under contract

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   CIV Dechi Marcel N'Guessan
MF   MAS Nor Azizi Ramlee
FW   MAS Wan Faiz Sulaiman

Development squads

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Kuching City B (U23)

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Head coach:   Oleg Kuzmianok

As of 6 April 2024[38]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   MAS Syafie Mursalim
GK   MAS Naim Ramadhan Narawi
DF   MAS Abang Haikal Za'afari
DF   MAS Haddad Aiman Sufian
DF   MAS Fadzly Shauqie Jeffry
DF   MAS Mohd Hazazi Harsi
DF   MAS Nasharuddin Jaapar Sidik
DF   MAS Nur Hasbullah Rahman
DF   MAS Josef Charsel Setom
DF   MAS Awang Nazmi Shamel
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   MAS Gabriel Batistuta Durling
MF   MAS Faris Mohd Faidillah
MF   MAS Adifbadri Ariffin
MF   MAS Syahryl Aiman Saidin
MF   MAS Mohd Khuzairi Abdullah
MF   MAS Azkaharridhi Farhan Hasnan
FW   MAS Cornelius Ornley Jina
FW   MAS Mohammad Rahiimin Roslan
FW   MAS Jeckelly Manir
FW   MAS Shane Thomas

Season by season record

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Updated on 1 November 2022.

Season Division Position Malaysia Cup Malaysian FA Cup Malaysian Charity Shield Regional Top Scorer (All Competitions)
2015–16 Liga LBR Champions DNQ
2017 FAM League 4th of 7 Group B DNQ
2018 FAM League 4th of 7 Group A DNQ Second round   Shafitri Salim (4)
2019 Liga M3 2nd DNQ Second round   Joseph Kalang Tie (18)
2020 Premier League 4th Cancelled Cancelled   Bryan Jones (4)
2021 Premier League 5th 3rd of 4th Group stage B Not held
2022 Premier League 3rd Quarter-finals Quarter-finals   Abu Kamara (12)
2023 Super League

Foreign players (since 2019)

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Season Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Player 8 Player 9 Former Player
2019   Yuta Suzuki
2020   Hudson Jesus   Bryan Jones Anicézio   Yuta Suzuki   Yuki Tanigawa
2021   Hudson Jesus   Aylton Alemão   Ijezie Michael   Yuta Suzuki   Bryan Jones
2022   Gabryel   Aylton Alemão   Abu Kamara   Yuki Tanigawa   Keanu Marsh-Brown
2023   Célio Santos   Aylton Alemão   Bruno Dybal   Yuki Tanigawa   Mihailo Jovanović   Abu Kamara   Dechi Marcel   Petrus Shitembi   Pedro Henrique   Sudi Abdallah

  Julian Schwarzer

  Michael Ijezie

  Sirojiddin Kuziev

Club staff

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As of 3 April 2024[39]

Team Management (Senior)
Role Person
President vacant
Technical director   Wan Jamak Wan Hassan
Manager   Irwanshah Mohamad[40]
Assistant manager   Ismail Haji Hamdin
Head coach   Aidil Sharin Sahak[41]
Assistant coach   Firdaus Morshidi
Goalkeeping coach   Khairul Azman Mohamed[42]
Fitness coach   Mohd Aidil Idham Fadzil Halmi
Video analyst   Ahmad Mundir
Team doctor   Muhamad Karbela Reza Ramlan
Physiotherapist   Mohd Khairul Nizam Suhaimi

  Ferdinand Lisa

Media officer   Darul Imran Azmi
Masseur   Mohamed Zawawi Ali Hassan

  Mohd Shahrizan Sahari

Kitman   Mohammad Hysham Adenan

  Azarul Nazriq

[43]

Team Management (Youth)
Manager

  Ahmad Zaki Zaidi U23 [44]

Assistant manager   Awang Azami Awang Idris U23
Head coach   Oleg Kuzmianok U23 [45]
Assistant coach   Joseph Kalang Tie U23 [46]

  Nizam Mahmud U23

Goalkeeping coach

  Abdul Gani Anuar U23 [47]   Roslan Madilan

Fitness coach

  Michael Wong U23 [48]

Team admin

  Roja James U23 [49]

Media officer

  Mohd Adib Marsat U23 [50]

Physiotherapist   Gary Nyelang U23 [51]
Masseur

  Padil Abet U23

Kitman

  Saiful Abdullah U23 [52]

Honours

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League

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References

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  1. ^ "New imports set to bolster Kuching City's Super League 2023 campaign". The Borneo Post. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Kuching Joins Liga FAM". SarawakCrocs.com – Sarawak's No.1 Football Site. 2 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Liga Bola Sepak Rakyat (LBR) to revive interest at district level". SPORTS247.MY – The Ultimate Malaysian Sports Channel. 13 June 2015.
  4. ^ http://www.fourthofficial.com/2015/20837/liga-bolasepak-rakyat-will-unearth-more-talent-najib-razak/ Liga Bolasepak Rakyat will unearth more talent – Najib Razak
  5. ^ "Kuching FA Juara Sulung Liga Bolasepak Rakyat". SarawakCrocs.com – Sarawak's No.1 Football Site. 28 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Liga Premier: Kuching FA masih tunggu lampu hijau daripada FAM". 30 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Terima Kasih & Selamat Maju Jaya". Facebook Kuching City FC. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  8. ^ "The Goalkeeper". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  9. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  10. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  11. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  12. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  13. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  14. ^ "The Engine". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  15. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  16. ^ "The Engine". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  17. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  18. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  19. ^ "The Engine". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  20. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  21. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  22. ^ "The Goalkeeper". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  23. ^ "The Engine". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  24. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  25. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  26. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  27. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  28. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  29. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  30. ^ "The Goalkeeper". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  31. ^ "The Engine". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  32. ^ "The Engine". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  33. ^ "The Goalkeeper". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  34. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  35. ^ "The Great Wall of Kuching City". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  36. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  37. ^ "The Attacking Force". Facebook Kuching City FC. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  38. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 team squad for 2024/2025 season announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Kuching City FC Team Staff for 2024/2025 Season". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Former Sarawak footballer to be appointed as team manager". Facebook Kuching City FC. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  41. ^ "Kuching City FC melantik Aidil Shahrin menggantikan Irfan Bakti". Facebook HarimauMalaya. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  42. ^ "Former Malaysian legendary appointed as goalkeeping coach". Facebook Kuching City FC. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  43. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  44. ^ "New head coach for U23 team appointed". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  45. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  46. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  47. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  48. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  49. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  50. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  51. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  52. ^ "Kuching City Under-23 Team announced". Facebook Kuching City FC. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
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