Firdaus
KOTA KINABALU: Businessman Firdaus Akbar Khan has been named as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Sabah Football Club (Sabah FC) Sdn Bhd.
Firdaus who is also Sabah Bersatu Information chief will be taking over from Datuk Verdon Bahanda, who recently resigned from the club after only five weeks at the helm.
Acting president of Sabah Football Association (Safa) Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin confirmed the appointment of Firdaus, which he said was agreed during the state body Supreme Council meeting here today.
Bung Moktar (seated, third from left) announced several appointments today, including Firdaus as Sabah FC new CEO.
Bung Moktar also announced that Indonesian coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto will return as head coach of Sabah FC to face the Malaysian League 2021 campaign.
Kurniawan was signed under the previous Safa management and guided Sabah to Super League safety in the Covid-19 disrupted 2020 season but his one-year deal ending last November was not extended.
At the same meeting, Bung Moktar also announced the team managers of the state senior squad as well as for the President Cup (under-22) and Youth Cup (under-19) teams.
The team managers are Marzuki Nasir (Sabah FC), Ahmad Syuaib Nasir (under-22 team) and Mohd Khairul Nizaem Moktar (under-19 team).
As for the players, Bung Moktar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, said they will be assessed from January 4-12 before the state senior squad is to be finalised.
“I’m confident Sabah will be fully ready to face the new football season,” Bung Moktar told reporters after chairing the meeting.
He added a ceremony to introduce the senior team players as well as launching of the state official jersey would be held on February 14.
He also said the Safa EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) will be conducted on February 27 where an election for the 2021-2023 term too will be taking place.
Meanwhile, Safa needed to undergo transformation including in its administration as well as to undertake new approaches in order to be at par with other teams in the country, said Bung Moktar.
“It is high time that Safa is seen as an entity that is self-sufficient and not be too dependent on state funds and contributions from others.
“Apart from that, I will also make sure Safa will be transparent and whatever decisions that we are going to take, we will make sure the committee members will be informed,” he said.