Kota Kinabalu: THE 2025-26 MFL league season finally came to conclusion after the Malaysia Cup final between Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) and Kuching City FC held at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
JDT FC won the match 2-0, but the score line was unfair to Kuching City FC, who had played a brilliant game of football.
Kuching City FC had produced a host of opportunities, but unfortunately, they failed to take advantage of any and they also missed a penalty in the second half through former JDT FC player Ramadhan Saifullah Usman.
That goal could have changed the scenario of the game as JDT FC were under a lot of pressure and had anxious moments until two late goals saved them the blushes.
It was good to see Kuching City FC taking the game to the very formidable JDT FC and they almost caused an upset.
They fully deserved praise with their performance throughout the match. It was not a boring one-sided final as many had expected. It was intense and it could have gone either way. A win for Kuching City FC would have been a wonderful treat for football instead of being dominated by JDT FC.
It is important to note that both Borneo teams had qualified for all the finals of this season’s Malaysia Cup, FA Cup and MFL Challenge Cup competitions.
Unlike Kuching City FC, Sabah FC were soundly beaten 0-5 by JDT FC in the FA Cup final, but were able to lift the MFL Challenge Cup by beating Penang City FC 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out.
With the final curtain dropped, all teams now can go back to the drawing board and prepare for next season. I had mentioned in my earlier articles that Sabah FC need to take a hard look in their current pool of players.
The management should know that they need to remove those who could not deliver in their performance.
Head coach Juan Torres Garrido, who only joined the team less than three months before the end of the season should basically know what the team needs and must have a big say on the selection of players, if he is retained.
After spending considerable time with the team, he should have some ideas on the areas that need to be strengthened for next season.
