Iswandi (centre), team manager Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (left) and head coach Ideris Untong during the 2019 FA Cup qualifying round draw at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor yesterday.
KUCHING: Kuching FA will have to endure a long season ahead in the M3 League which is set to kick off on March 16.
The Malaysian Football League (MFL) yesterday announced that 14 teams would take part in the third division league.
Kuching FA will have to play a total of 26 matches.
“We have to comply with the MFL decision to set 14 teams in the M3 League because they want to make the competition more competitive,” assistant manager Iswandi Ali Hassan said when contacted yesterday.
“Of course our budget will double this year because we will be playing 13 away matches. And it does not include the FA Cup and FAM League matches.”
Most of the teams are from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor including some from Melaka, Terengganu, Johor and Kelantan.
The teams are Glory United FC, Protap FC, DDM FC, Kelantan United FC, ATM, Puchong Fuerza FC, SAMB FC, Ultimate FC, JBFA, BTK FC, Tun Razak FC, Penjara FC and Batu 2 FC.
The matches will take place on Saturday or Sunday.
Kuching FA have bolstered their squad this year by signing several former Sarawak players such as Joseph Kalang Tie, Hairol Mokhtar, Ramesh Lai Ban Huat, Dzulazlan Ibrahim, Mazwandi Zakeria and Hafis Saperi.
The squad will also take part in the FA Cup competition from Feb 16.