KUCHING – AFFIN Group has been appointed the banking partner of Kuching City Football Club (KCFC) under a new strategic partnership announced in Kuching on 14 August 2026.
The agreement brings together the financial group and one of Sarawak’s football clubs in a collaboration aimed at strengthening links between the corporate sector and the development of local football.
The partnership was formalised during a signing ceremony at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre, witnessed by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.
The appointment of AFFIN as KCFC’s banking partner represents an expansion of cooperation between the two organisations, with both sides expected to pursue opportunities arising from their strategic relationship.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Premier described the agreement as an important occasion for AFFIN and Kuching City FC and expressed hope that the partnership would contribute to the progress of both organisations.
“Today is an important occasion between AFFIN and Kuching City FC. I hope we can win not only on the football field, but also in the banking field,” he said.
The Premier also drew a comparison between achieving results in sport and business, stressing the importance of having sufficient resources, a clear strategy and coordinated efforts.
“To win, you need manpower and strategy,” he said.
His remarks highlighted the broader role of partnerships in helping organisations work towards shared objectives. In the case of football, corporate support can form part of the wider ecosystem surrounding clubs as they seek to strengthen their operations and build sustainable structures.
For Kuching City FC, the collaboration places a financial institution alongside the club as it continues its activities within Sarawak’s football landscape. The partnership also provides a platform for greater engagement between the club and the private sector.
The agreement comes against the wider backdrop of corporate involvement in sports, where partnerships between businesses and sporting organisations can provide opportunities for clubs to develop their capabilities beyond activities on the pitch.
Such relationships can also help connect sports organisations with the wider business community while supporting efforts to establish stronger foundations for their long-term operations.
The partnership between AFFIN Group and KCFC therefore extends beyond the formal appointment of a banking partner, bringing together interests from the financial and sporting sectors in Sarawak.
With the Premier witnessing the signing, the agreement also underscores the significance attached to cooperation between businesses and local sporting organisations in supporting the state’s football development.
Further details on specific initiatives, financial arrangements or programmes under the partnership were not provided in the announcement.
For now, the agreement establishes AFFIN as Kuching City FC’s banking partner and sets the framework for continued cooperation between the two organisations.
The development adds another corporate relationship to Sarawak’s sporting landscape, while both AFFIN Group and Kuching City FC look to build on the partnership and pursue their respective organisational goals.
