Head coach Tan Cheng Hoe is a content man after putting his personal touch in Kedah's road to the Malaysia Cup final this season.
In 2015, Tan left for Guangzhou, China during the quarterfinal stage of the competition to take his FIFA Pro License course. The 48-year-old left coaching duties to his former assistant Ramon Marcote, but still masterminded the team's run to the final after victories over PKNS FC and Felda United in the last eight and last four respectively.
The bespectacled chief returned on the eve of the final to helm his side, who eventually lost 2-0 to Selangor at the Shah Alam Stadium.
But since acquiring the highest level of football coaching qualification, Tan acknowledges his training regime has taken a turn for the better.
He is hoping to see that pay off when his Kedah side take on Selangor in a repeat of last season's Malaysia Cup final on Oct. 30 at the same venue.
"I learned how to improve the Kedah team since completing my license. I studied many things during the course, including different tactics and philosophies," Tan told ESPN FC.
"But more importantly it taught me the need to emphasize modern football on the team. That means more short passes, playing lesser long balls and cutting out unnecessary crosses which teams sometimes tend to do."
The Pro License is mandatory for top level leagues, a required badge for coaches for whose teams compete in the UEFA Europa League or Champions League.
"In Europe, coaches implement different types of combination passes, and place high regards for teamwork drills instead of individual strategy. We have implemented this and I can see the difference," said Tan, who guided the Canaries to the FA Cup semifinals and a third place finish in the Malaysia Super League this season.
"Of course what we have achieved this year is commendable. But as a coach, you always want to improve more, and I still have a lot left to learn in this game."
Kedah's allocation of 30,000 tickets have also been all but snapped up as hordes of fans camped overnight outside the Darul Aman Stadium.
Fans were seen sleeping outside the ticket booths as early as 6pm on Tuesday evening, and it only took an hour for 9,000 tickets to be sold when counters opened on Wednesday morning.
Tan wants nothing more than his side to reward the fans with a first Malaysia Cup trophy since 2008.
"Our fans have been amazing throughout the season. We have had full house from the quarterfinals of the Cup, and the players are fired up to reward them with the trophy as well. God willing, we will do so on Sunday."