Selangor FC gears up to face the reigning champions, Johor Darul Ta’zim, in the Piala Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah 2025/26 curtain-raiser for the Liga Super Malaysia 2025/26. Head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi remains calm and focused despite the magnitude of the occasion.
The Japanese tactician, set for his first official encounter with JDT, acknowledged the Southern Tigers’ long-standing dominance in Malaysian football, but emphasized that his squad is not overawed by their opponent’s formidable reputation.
“We respect Johor Darul Ta’zim — they’ve dominated Malaysian football for several seasons. This will be my first official match against them,” said Kinoshi in the pre-match press conference.
“JDT’s experience, especially on the international stage, is undeniable. But we’re not focusing on their status. Our preparation has been solid, and I believe we can give them a real challenge.”
Kinoshi revealed that Selangor’s lineup will feature new signings, both local and foreign, who are expected to make an impact despite their lack of experience in the Malaysian league. Among them are Zach Clough, Picha Autra, and Kevin Deeromram.
“These players are experienced professionals. Despite being new to the Malaysia Super League, I’m confident in their ability. They’ve adapted well to our playing philosophy over the past six to seven weeks of training.”
Reflecting on the team’s goalless draw against Asia Warriors in a recent training match, Kinoshi downplayed concerns over the result. Instead, he used the match as a platform to evaluate the squad holistically.
“That game was purely for assessment. I fielded all available players to observe their strengths and weaknesses. It served its purpose well.”
Subsequent preparations included a high-intensity friendly match against a professional club, in which Selangor won 5-0, helping the coaching staff address key tactical flaws identified earlier.
“Yes, the result against Asia Warriors may not have been ideal, but it allowed us to fix critical issues. The 5-0 win afterwards showed how far we’ve come, especially in building intensity and cohesion.”
With a monumental clash awaiting, Kinoshi underscored the importance of mental resilience and character among his players when facing JDT.
“It’s easy to say we need to give more than 100 percent — but executing that on the pitch is a different challenge altogether. Every player must have strong mental fortitude and a positive character to thrive in such a competitive environment.”
Credit Photo : Jayden Seah/SNE-Photo
