By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 30: Taha Ariffin Stadium is on track to become the home venue for Kuching City FC (KCFC) in the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup and AFC Champions League Two after receiving conditional approval from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
KCFC executive chairman Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman said the conditional approval followed an inspection by AFC and FAM officials on Sept 23.
Speaking at a press conference here today, he said several requirements remained to be completed before the stadium could fully comply with international match standards.
“The two main outstanding works are the installation of stadium lighting and preparation of a broadcast room, while several other minor requirements are also being addressed,” he said as reported by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas).
Fazzrudin, who is also Tupong assemblyman, said the lighting installation was already 90 per cent complete and was expected to be ready for use before Oct 7.
“For the broadcast room, we will discuss with Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) to ensure it can be prepared,” he said.
He said the conditional approval reflected the close cooperation between the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, SSC and KCFC, with part of the stadium improvements funded through the RM7 million allocation for the facility.
Among the upgrades completed are the installation of numbered seats, refurbishment of the home and visiting teams’ dressing rooms, a referees’ room and match officials’ room, as well as improvements to the surau, toilets, lighting and spectator safety facilities.
“With all the seats completed, the stadium can accommodate 17,584 spectators,” he said.
Fazzrudin said the introduction of numbered seating represented a new experience for KCFC supporters, who had previously been accustomed to free seating.
He said the recent friendly match against Sabah was used to familiarise supporters with the new sector arrangements and assigned seating system.
Meanwhile, KCFC has also stepped up security preparations by increasing the number of marshals and security personnel in anticipation of larger crowds and high-intensity international matches.
Fazzrudin said members of the club’s security team had also attended matches outside Kuching to learn stadium security management practices from more experienced teams.
The club is also working to better organise vendors operating around the stadium to ensure matchday commercial activities are conducted in an orderly manner and comply with AFC requirements.
“We do not only want Kuching City to move forward, but to bring the entire matchday ecosystem along, including vendors outside the stadium.
“We want them to be placed in a comfortable and orderly area that meets the requirements set by AFC,” he said.
Fazzrudin said Taha Ariffin Stadium was expected to welcome teams from countries including South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Cambodia when KCFC competes in international tournaments.
He also urged supporters to cooperate by complying with stadium entry and seating arrangements, maintaining cleanliness and taking care of the facilities.
He said the cooperation of supporters would be crucial in ensuring Taha Ariffin Stadium could continue serving as KCFC’s home venue for international competition. – DayakDaily
