Kuching: Kuching City FC head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak hailed his players’ hunger and determination after The Cats stormed into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a resounding 7-1 victory over DPMM FC at Stadium Negeri last night. The emphatic win, powered by a hat-trick from Cameroon striker Wanja Ronald Ngah, marked a significant improvement from their previous clash in Brunei and underlined the role of home support in driving Aidil’s men forward.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Aidil expressed that the key difference in the match was the team’s increased hunger and the unwavering support from the fans. He emphasized the importance of the supporters, stating, “The big difference tonight is we showed more hunger and we knew we needed to win. Also, the fans were always behind us and that’s very important in football.” Aidil praised his players’ performance, noting their dominance even against a 10-man DPMM team.

Looking ahead, Aidil mentioned that Kuching City FC must now focus on the Super League, where they will face Selangor on September 21. He acknowledged Selangor as a formidable opponent but expressed hope for good weather to ensure an exciting match for the fans. “Tonight we celebrate, but tomorrow we start preparing again for the next match,” he said.

Meanwhile, DPMM coach James Reynolds McAllister admitted his team’s struggles after a poor start and the setback of being reduced to 10 men, following a red card for defender Jordan Rodrigues in the 20th minute. McAllister expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance and emphasized the importance of learning from their mistakes. He stated, “You’ve got to dust yourself down, learn from your mistakes and go again and fight harder.”

McAllister reiterated the necessity of focusing on the basics to improve their performance in future matches. The coach remained optimistic that the lessons from the defeat could strengthen their campaign moving forward.