SABAH FC TO BANK ON SABAHANS FOR 2025-26 SUPER LEAGUE SEASON

KOTA KINABALU, May 16 (Bernama) -- Sabah FC will feature more local players to fill slots in the starting eleven when the 2025-2026 Super League season kicks off said Sabah Football Association (SAFA) president Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

He said that this year, the management and coaching team of the Sabah squad has also decided to recruit more players from the state of Sabah itself instead of relying on naturalised foreign footballers.

"What is different this season is that we will try to feature more new faces or local players from Sabah to play in the Sabah FC starting XI.

"The question of what percentage of local players and foreign players will be in the Sabah FC team will be finalised later by the management and coaching team. But what is certain is that our main mission or theme this year is to highlight players from Sabah," he said here today.

He said this after the Strategic Cooperation signing ceremony between Sabah FC and sponsor RedOne Network Sdn Bhd, which was signed by Sabah FC general manager Md Joh Wid and RedOne Network Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Ameen Amaendran.

Commenting further, Shahelmey who is also the Deputy Chief Minister III of Sabah said that this season Sabah FC is still using the services of head coach Martin Stano.

"My hope as the president of SAFA is that the Sabah FC team will still be able to display a competitive performance this season," he added.

Earlier at the ceremony, Sabah FC received a sponsorship worth RM500,000 from RedOne Network Sdn Bhd for a period of two years.

Shahelmey said it was a good collaboration and would definitely benefit both parties, thus bringing a digital approach for Sabah FC.

"I hope that in the 2025-2026 Super League there will be many more companies that will form partnerships with Sabah FC to ensure that the squad can meet its financial needs," he said.

-- BERNAMA