Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are preparing for a potentially historic night when they face Kuching City in the Piala Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (Piala Sumbangsih) 2026/27, with coach Xisco Muñoz insisting his players must focus on two prizes: another trophy and a place in football history.
JDT enter the season-opening showdown with the opportunity to retain the Piala Sumbangsih while also extending their remarkable league unbeaten run, which is approaching a potential world record.
For Muñoz, however, the size of the occasion should not distract his players.
“Tomorrow is important for two situations. One, we have one trophy, and the second one, we can come into the history of football.”
The Spaniard believes the occasion is a reward for everyone who has contributed to JDT’s extraordinary rise over the past 12 years.
“Tomorrow is a special day for our club, for the fans, for everybody who has tried to support us the last 12 years.”
The possibility of creating a world record naturally brings enormous attention, but Muñoz insists it is a pressure JDT players are accustomed to handling.
“It’s a nice pressure.” The JDT boss explained that wearing the club crest itself carries a unique level of expectation.
“When you put the logo of JDT, you know you have pressure and how demanding you are about all the situations. And this is amazing.”
Muñoz believes the secret is learning to separate the noise surrounding the occasion from the football itself.
“Tomorrow, when they start to play, they forget everything and they start to play how they know. This is the most important.”
Despite their formidable record and squad depth, Muñoz has warned his players that Kuching City will provide a serious examination.
The Southern Tigers’ recent meetings with the Sarawak-based club have often been competitive, with Kuching making life difficult through a disciplined defensive structure and dangerous counter-attacks.
“It is sure tomorrow is a tough game. Our last games against them have been very difficult.”
Muñoz highlighted Kuching’s strengths in defensive organisation, physical battles and transitions.
“They have a very good structure defensively. They understand well how to make the counter-attack because they have good players.”
The JDT coach also praised Kuching’s ability to manage set pieces, crosses and physical duels.
“They are stronger, they manage the duels very well and they have the capacity to make this transition.”
That is why Muñoz expects another close contest despite the difference in resources between the two clubs.
Muñoz described the match as effectively a final, despite being the first competitive game of the new campaign.
“It is the first game, but it is important we understand it is one final.”
The JDT coach wants his players to deliver at maximum intensity in every aspect of the game — tactically, emotionally and physically.
“We need to give 100 percent we have inside.”
That mentality reflects JDT’s broader philosophy of treating every match as an opportunity to maintain their standards.
JDT striker Bergson da Silva also acknowledged the importance of the occasion.
For the Brazilian forward, the possibility of extending the record and winning another trophy provides additional motivation, but it must not alter the team’s approach.
“Every game is a different feeling. Tomorrow we have a plus — keep the record and fight for one more trophy.”
Bergson believes the focus must remain on the match itself.
“We don’t have any reason to be worried about the other things, about the plus that we have beside the game. We have our mentality and our plan.”
The striker is also hoping JDT supporters will fill the stadium and create the atmosphere required to start the season strongly.
“We hope all the fans come and support us from the first game.”
For Bergson, the opening fixture also represents the first message JDT will send for the new campaign.
“Tomorrow is an important day, important thing, important match for us.”
Kuching City are expected to be without several players who are registered on loan from JDT, adding another layer of intrigue to the fixture.
Muñoz, however, refused to make the situation a major talking point.
Instead, he stressed that player safety and integrity must come first.
“The most important thing is we need to put the safe and integrity of the players.”
The JDT coach suggested that the circumstances surrounding those players are better managed away from the spotlight rather than becoming a distraction before the match.
For a club accustomed to winning trophies, the Piala Sumbangsih may be only the first piece of silverware available this season.
But it could also become the night JDT enter the record books.
Muñoz understands the significance.
“We have a good atmosphere in our stadium, good support from our fans and our players. Sure, we give 100 percent inside for taking one step forward.”
Kuching City, meanwhile, arrive determined to create an upset and show that JDT’s historic run can be challenged.
That makes the season opener more than a trophy match.
It is a collision between Malaysia’s dominant force and an ambitious challenger, with history potentially waiting for the Southern Tigers.
Credit Photo : Jayden Seah/SNE-Photo
