Kuching City F.C.

Kuching City

Full name	Kuching City Football Club
Nickname	Il Gatto (The Cats)
Short name	KUC, KCG
Founded	2015 (2015) as Kuching FA 2021 (2021) as Kuching City
Ground	Taha Ariffin Stadium
Capacity	26,000
Co-owner	Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman Kamaludin Akil
CEO	Iswandi Ali Hassan
Head coach	Aidil Sharin Sahak
League	Malaysia Super League
2025–26	Malaysia Super League, 2nd of 13
Website	kuchingcityfc.com
Home colours Away colours

Kuching City Football Club, simply known as Kuching City, is a professional football club based in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia that currently plays in the Malaysia Super League. It was the youngest club to join the highest level of the Malaysian football league system, having been founded since 2015. It is the third professional football club based in the state of Sarawak, after former state football club Sarawak FA and another defunct club Sarawak United.

History

As Kuching FA (2015–2020)

In 2015, with the commencement of the People's 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. Consequently, Kuching F.A. was founded alongside it to represent the district of Kuching in Sarawak.

FAM Cup

In the 2015–16 Liga Bolasepak Rakyat, Kuching won the inaugural edition 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, 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.

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.

Kuching City players playing a friendly match against Bruneian club DPMM on 4 January 2025.

As Kuching City (2021–present)

First cup final

Kuching City were promoted to the 2023 Malaysia Super League for the first time in history after their MFL License was approved for the 2023 season. On 2 August 2023, former Singaporean legend, Aidil Sharin Sahak was announced as the new head coach for 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.

AFC Champions League Two debut

Kuching City then finished the 2025–26 Malaysia Super League as runners-up with 53 points thus seeing the club qualified for the 2026–27 ASEAN Club Championship and the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two for the first time in the club history. In the club debut ASEAN Club Championship, they were draw in Group A alongside both Thai club Buriram United and Ratchaburi, Vietnamese club Công An Hồ Chí Minh City, Singaporean club Tampines Rovers and Indonesian club Borneo Samarinda. While in the club debut continental competition, Kuching City was then placed in Group H of the AFC Champions League Two alongside Korean club Gangwon, Hong Kong club Kitchee and Cambodian club Phnom Penh Crown.

Stadium

Taha Ariffin Stadium

Kuching City has used Taha Ariffin Stadium in Kuching as its home ground since 2015. Formerly known as Sarawak State Stadium, it is one of the major football venues in the city. The stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 26,000 spectators, making it one of the larger stadiums in Sarawak. The stadium also host Kuching City's league matches and other domestic football competitions. The stadium is also an important part of Kuching’s football culture, regularly attracting local supporters on match days.

The stadium was renamed Taha Ariffin Stadium in honour of Datuk Taha Ariffin, a prominent figure in the development of football in Sarawak. Taha Ariffin was involved in the administration of the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) and played an important role in the development of Sarawak football during the late 20th century. Contemporary accounts describe him as a key figure in the establishment and development of the state's football administration.

Team image

Crest and colours

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.

• 
  2019–2021

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Season	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
2017	Starsport	Kuching City of Unity
2018–2020		LSC & Kuching City of Unity
2021		Serba Dinamik, LSC & Yakult
2022		Kuching City of Unity, LSC, Yakult & Fitogether
2023		Kuching City of Unity & LSC
2024–2025		Press Metal, LSC & Kuching City of Unity
2025–2026
2026–present		AirBorneo, Affin Bank, Press Metal, & LSC

Players

First-team squad

As of September 2026

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	MAS	Haziq Nadzli
2	DF	MAS	Jimmy Raymond
3	DF	MAS	Rodney Celvin
4	DF	BRA	Gabriel Peres
5	MF	MAS	Ryan Lambert (on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
6	DF	MAS	Arif Fadzilah
7	FW	MAS	Ramadhan Saifullah
8	MF	MAS	Nazmi Faiz Mansor (on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
10	MF	NAM	Petrus Shitembi
11	FW	CMR	Jerome Mpacko Etame
12	FW	AUS	Dylan Wenzel-Halls
14	FW	MAS	Amir Amri
17	DF	MAS	Irfan Zakaria
18	FW	CMR	Ronald Ngah
19	FW	MAS	Gabriel Nistelrooy (on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
20	GK	MAS	Haziq Aiman
21	DF	MAS	Declan Lambert (on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
22	MF	TLS	João Pedro
23	DF	MAS	Ariff Farhan Isa
24	FW	BIH	Ajdin Mujagić (on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
27	DF	MAS	Filemon Anyie
29	FW	MAS	Safawi Rasid (on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
35	DF	NGR	James Okwuosa (captain)
39	FW	MAS	Zharmein Ashraf
44	MF	MAS	Alif Hassan
50	MF	MAS	Diego Baggio
55	GK	MAS	Shahril Saa'ri
60	DF	MAS	Yohanis Daniel
67	MF	MAS	Shamie Iszuan
77	DF	MAS	Yuki Tanigawa
80	MF	MAS	Wesley Azcang Milkias
86	GK	MAS	Wan Azraie
88	MF	JPN	Kaishu Yamazaki
99	MF	JOR	Ahmad Israiwah
—	DF	MAS	Samuel Bone

Out on loan

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player

Development squads

Kuching City II (U20)

Head coach: Hakimi Man

As of 18 April 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. 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

Management and staff

As of July 2026

Team Management (Senior)
Role	Person
President & CEO	Iswandi Ali Hassan
Technical director	Wan Jamak Wan Hassan
Manager	Irwanshah Mohamad
Head coach	Aidil Sharin Sahak
Assistant coach	Zulkarnien Mohamad Poasa
	Oleg Kuzmianok
Goalkeeping coach	Khairul Azman Mohamed
Fitness coach	Azmi Ibrahim
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	Azarul Nazriq Bolhi

Team Management (Youth)
Manager	Ahmad Zaki Zaidi U20
Assistant manager	Awang Azami Awang Idris U20
Head coach	Hakimi Man U20
Assistant coach	Joseph Kalang Tie U20 Nizam Mahmud U20
Goalkeeping coach	Abdul Gani Anuar U20
Fitness coach	Michael Wong U20
Team admin	Roja James U20
Media officer	Mohd Adib Marsat U20
Physiotherapist	Gary Nyelang U20
Masseur	Padil Abet U20
Kitman	Saiful Abdullah U20

Honours

Type	Competition	Titles	Season
League	Malaysia Premier LeagueFootball leag

Domestic

League

• Division 1/Super League
  • Runners-up (1): 2025–26
• Division 2/Premier League
  • Promotion (1): 2022
• Division 3/M3 League
  • Runners-up (1): 2019
  • Promotion Play-offs Winners: 2019
• Division 4/Liga Bolasepak Rakyat
  • Winners: 2015–16

Cup

• Malaysia Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2026
• MFL Challenge Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2023
• Piala Sumbangsih
  • Runners-up (1): 2026

Season by season record

Updated on 23 January 2026.

Season	Division	Position	Malaysia Cup	Malaysia FA Cup	Malaysia Challenge Cup	Malaysia Charity Shield	ACL Two	ACC	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	Runners-up	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	–	–	–	–	Alif Hassan (6)
2022	Premier League	3rd	Quarter-finals	Quarter-finals	–	–	–	–	Abu Kamara (12)
2023	Super League	13th	Round 16	Second Round	Runners-up	–	–	–	Abu Kamara (16)
2024–25	Super League	4th	Quarter-finals	Quarter-finals	–	–	–	–	Jordan Mintah (15)
2025–26	Super League	Runners-up	Runners-up	Semi-finals	–	–	–	–	Ronald Ngah (22)

Continental record

• AFC Champions League Two

  2026–27: Group stage

List of matches

All results list Kuching's goal tally first.

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2026–27	AFC Champions League Two	Group H	Phnom Penh Crown		1–2
			Kitchee
			Gangwon FC

Regional record

List of matches

All results list Kuching's goal tally first.

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2026–27	ASEAN Club Championship	Group A	Tampines Rovers		—N/a
			Borneo Samarinda		—N/a
			Công An Hồ Chí Minh City	—N/a
			Buriram United		—N/a
			Manila Digger	—N/a
			Ratchaburi	—N/a

Foreign players (since 2019)

Season	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3	Player 4	Player 5	Player 6	Player 7	Player 8	Player 9	Player 10	Player 11	Former Player
2019	Yuta Suzuki
2020	Yuta Suzuki	Yuki Tanigawa	Bryan Jones	Hudson Jesus
2021	Yuta Suzuki	Ijezie Michael	Aylton Alemão	Hudson Jesus								Bryan Jones
2022	Yuki Tanigawa	Abu Kamara	Aylton Alemão	Gabryel								Keanu Marsh-Brown
2023	Yuki Tanigawa	Petrus Shitembi	Aylton Alemão	Bruno Dybal	Célio Santos	Abu Kamara	Dechi Marcel	Mihailo Jovanović	Pedro Henrique			Sudi Abdallah Julian Schwarzer Michael Ijezie Sirojiddin Kuziev
2024–25	Yuki Tanigawa	Petrus Shitembi	James Okwuosa	Jordan Mintah	Kipré Tchétché	Nando Walter	Moses Atede					Keanu Marsh-Brown Pedro Henrique
2025–26	Yuki Tanigawa	Petrus Shitembi	James Okwuosa	João Pedro	Ronald Ngah Wanja	Jerome Mpacko Etame	Moses Atede	Ahmad Israiwah	Scott Woods			Nando Walter Kipré Tchétché
2026–27	Yuki Tanigawa	Petrus Shitembi	James Okwuosa	João Pedro	Ronald Ngah Wanja	Jerome Mpacko Etame	Kaishu Yamazaki	Ahmad Israiwah	Ajdin Mujagić	Gabriel Peres	Dylan Wenzel-Halls

External links

• Official website
• Kuching City F.C. on Facebook
• Sarawak Football News website
• Current results of Kuching City matches at Flashscore