JDT Sweat Over Player Selection, Arif Aiman Boost Ahead Of Malaysia Cup Final
KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Xisco Munoz admitted he is facing a selection dilemma ahead of the 2025-2026 Malaysia Cup final against Kuching City FC at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here tomorrow night.
The Spanish tactician said the abundance of quality players in the Southern Tigers squad, coupled with league regulations involving the combination of foreign and local players has made the selection process more challenging.
“It’s difficult to choose our best level tomorrow because we have a lot of players and very good players. For the capacity and the rules, we can only put a certain level.
“We also need to understand the combinations between the foreign players and the national players. We need to try to choose which is the best option for the first eleven, and it’s not only about the names,” he told a pre-match press conference today.
Munoz said things would be easier if the team could utilise the entire squad without restrictions but accepted that the challenges are part of the situation his side must deal with.
At the same time, he said national sensation winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi could make his return after being sidelined for about six months while undergoing treatment for a hamstring injury.
Arif Aiman sustained the injury during the match against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on Nov 18 last year.
“We need to understand that Arif has been out for a long time without playing. There is also pressure on us if Arif comes back tomorrow. He surely needs more time to regain his condition and return to his usual level but tomorrow, Arif is in the squad list,” he said.
Munoz expects a stern test against Kuching City, who have emerged as one of the standout teams this season after finishing second in the Super League.
He described tomorrow’s final as a clash between the two best teams in the country and stressed the importance of maintaining full focus to ensure JDT close an impressive campaign on a high note.
“We want to close the season properly because it has been an amazing season. We will try to give our best and end the campaign in a good way.
“The challenge is that we are playing against a team that only conceded 14 goals throughout the league season. Every time we played against them, the matches were always very close,” he said.
JDT are chasing their sixth Malaysia Cup title after winning the competition in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 and the 2024/2025 season, while Kuching City under the guidance of Aidil Sharin Sahak have the opportunity to create history by lifting the trophy for the first time.
Tomorrow’s match will be officiated by four high-profile match officials from Qatar as part of the Malaysian Football League’s effort to ensure officiating standards are at the highest level, in line with the reputation of Malaysia’s oldest and most prestigious football competition.
-- BERNAMA
