CM wants capable, committed candidate for Safa president post
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Football Association (Safa) president post should be given to a candidate who is highly capable and can fully commit their time towards running the association, stressed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yesterday.
This was vital to ensure that the number one sport in the state can be developed efficiently, said Shafie when asked to comment on a recent plea from Sabah team manager Datuk Juil Nuatim for him to consider taking over the vacated Safa president post.
“I’ve already given my view that it is better to give (president post) to someone with the expertise and who can fully commit for Safa.
“The person must not necessarily come with top level position but more importantly, he must have the ability, be committed and can provide constructive new ideas.
“God willing I will meet up with them and provide guidance so that football in the state will be an industry that appeal and attract people from all walks of life,” he said.
Shafie also pointed out that he was aware of the problems faced by Safa at present, especially financially as admitted by Juil recently.
“We will look into the that (problem),” assured Shafie at the closing of the Malaysia IPTS Sports Council (Masiswa) Games for Sabah Zone held at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas near here yesterday.
Safa have been without a president after Tan Sri Musa Aman stepped down on May 26 since the ruling coalition lost power at the 14th General Election in early May.
Vice president Datuk Yusof Kassim had since been appointed as the acting president while awaiting the Safa Congress on August 11 where an election will take place to choose a new president as well as to fill the posts of deputy president (two) and vice president.