Brighter stadium welcomes fans back home

KUCHING: Football fans returned to a brighter Stadium Taha Ariffin, where red, yellow and black seats now add colour, though some supporters say more work is needed.

The seats, which recall the colours of the Sarawak flag, give the stands a distinctly local feel. The upgraded floodlights have also lit up the stadium noticeably more than before.

Harith Farhan, 24, said the numbered seats were a welcome addition as they helped spectators find their sections more easily.

“It helps us know which section to head to. But it was still free seating when we arrived, so it was first come, first served, even though some sections do not have seats yet,” he told Sarawak Tribune last week after the friendly against Sabah FC, which the hosts won 4-1.

He also praised the improved lighting, saying the stadium was visibly brighter.

“The lighting is much better now. What I’m wondering is when the LED screens will be fixed, because only one was working during the match,” he said.

Aina Yusreen, 25, meanwhile felt that brighter lights did not always make for a better view, especially for those seated at less favourable angles.

“Sometimes it is difficult to see, and the roof at one of the sections affected the experience,” she said.

She added that the pitch could be in better condition, particularly as it had rained earlier that day.

“The rain earlier that day may have affected the gameplay that night, so I hope the field can be better prepared,” she said.

Aina also hoped the toilets would be kept clean, given the complaints raised previously.

“We hope the cleanliness can be maintained, because that was one of the main complaints before,” she said.

The upgrading works had kept Kuching City FC away from their home ground for more than a month, so their return to Stadium Taha Ariffin was eagerly awaited by supporters.

Kuching City FC executive chairman Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman said the stadium can now accommodate 17,584 spectators, with numbered seating introduced as part of the upgrades.

He said the stands, changing rooms, toilets, lighting and overall cleanliness had also been improved.

Fazzrudin added that the stadium was approved as a venue for Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and ASEAN matches after a site inspection by the AFC and Football Association of Malaysia on Sept 23.

However, works on the stadium lights and broadcast room are still being completed.

The venue faces its next big test when Kuching City FC host Hong Kong side Kitchee FC on Oct 15 in the AFC Champions League Two.

For now, the stadium looks brighter and more colourful, but fans hope the remaining improvements will soon bring the facilities up to the standard of its new look.