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.http://www.fourthofficial.com/2015/20837/liga-bolasepak-rakyat-will-unearth-more-talent-najib-razak/ Liga Bolasepak Rakyat will unearth more talent – Najib Razak 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.
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
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.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors SeasonKit manufacturerShirt 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
(on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
(on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
(on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
(on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
(on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
(on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim)
Out on loan
Development squads Kuching City II (U20) Head coach: Hakimi Man
Management and staff
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 RamlanPhysiotherapist Mohd Khairul Nizam Suhaimi Ferdinand Lisa Media officer Darul Imran AzmiMasseur 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 +TypeCompetitionTitlesSeasonLeagueMalaysia 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.
SeasonDivisionPositionMalaysia CupMalaysia FA CupMalaysia Challenge CupMalaysia Charity ShieldACL TwoACCTop scorer (All Competitions) 2015–16Liga LBRChampionsDNQ––––– 2017FAM League4th of 7 Group BDNQ––––– 2018FAM League4th of 7 Group ADNQSecond round–––– Shafitri Salim (4) 2019Liga M3Runners-up DNQSecond round–––– Joseph Kalang Tie (18) 2020Premier League4th CancelledCancelled–––– Bryan Jones (4) 2021Premier League5th 3rd of 4th Group stage B Not held–––– Alif Hassan (6) 2022Premier League3rd Quarter-finalsQuarter-finals–––– Abu Kamara (12) 2023Super League 13th Round 16 Second Round Runners-up––– Abu Kamara (16) 2024–25Super League 4th Quarter-finalsQuarter-finals–––– Jordan Mintah (15) 2025–26Super LeagueRunners-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. SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate2026–27AFC Champions League TwoGroup H Phnom Penh Crown1–2 Kitchee Gangwon FC
Regional record
List of matches All results list Kuching's goal tally first. SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate2026–27ASEAN Club ChampionshipGroup A Tampines Rovers Borneo Samarinda Công An Hồ Chí Minh City Buriram United Manila Digger Ratchaburi
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 Henrique2025–26 Yuki Tanigawa Petrus Shitembi James Okwuosa João Pedro Ronald Ngah Wanja Jerome Mpacko Etame Moses AtedeAhmad Israiwah Scott Woods Nando Walter Kipré Tchétché2026–27 Yuki Tanigawa Petrus Shitembi James Okwuosa João Pedro Ronald Ngah WanjaJerome Mpacko Etame Kaishu YamazakiAhmad Israiwah Ajdin Mujagić Gabriel Peres Dylan Wenzel-Halls
References
External links
Sarawak Football News website Current results of Kuching City matches at Flashscore