He is without doubt one of Singapore’s top football exports.
He is not a player though, but a coach.
For the second season in a row, 44-year-old Singaporean football coach Aidil Sharin has led Kedah Darul Aman FC to the runner-up spot in the Malaysia Super League (MSL).
The northerners had to play second fiddle to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) once again, with the Southern Johor Tigers picking up the title for the eighth consecutive time since 2014.
Coincidentally, the winners of the 2013 Malaysia Super League title was the Lions XII side from Singapore.
But back to Aidil again.
In his first season with Kedah in 2019, he led them to fourth spot in the league standings, and also won the Malaysia FA Cup competition.
In 2020, Kedah finished in second position in a truncated league season due to Covid-19.
And this year, to secure the second spot, his Hijau-Kuning side beat Melaka United 4-1 on the final day of the season on 12 September at the Darul Aman Stadium to secure the runners-up position, and a place in the 2022 Asian Football Confederation Cup competition.
Aidil, a former Home United and Singapore international midfielder, told Malaysia’s Harian Metro that he was happy with the team’s finish, despite coming in second to JDT again.
“I am thankful that the players showed commitment and worked hard throughout the season, because they wanted to ensure that we secured the second position the league,” he said.
One of the players in his side is current Singapore international M Anumanthan, who was making his debut in the MSL this year.
Aidil did share that his team did not have it easy this year as they battled with the likes of Penang, Terengganu and Selangor for the three spots below JDT, who were in a class of their own.
“We had key players missing and two first team players who were representing their respective countries during international competitions.”
“Despite that, I can only commend the players for their achievements, their fighting spirit throughout the season and I can only hope this will continue through to the Malaysia Cup competition.”
The Malaysia Cup competition begins on 17 September.
Photos: Kedah Darul Aman FC
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