Sabah govt still committed to football devt – CM
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has assured that the state government was committed towards the development of football in the state.
In making the remark here yesterday, Shafie however said the Sabah Football Association (Safa) must also play their part and as such, they cannot depend entirely on the government for their purpose.
He explained that the assistance will not be based entirely on finances as he insisted that the State FA must find ways to strengthen their financial status.
“The most important thing is that Safa must have capable people running the association. Safa also need to have new approaches to enhance the sport.
“We should not think that we can only be successful with money. Instead, we need to utilise the available resources such as the existing training facilities and infrastructure (to improve).
“Why can’t we be successful even without money?” he questioned.
Shafie went on to say that capable individuals such as former state and national footballers should also assist Safa and help football development together in Sabah.
He added that he had met with old friends including former footballers and advised them to be active.
“They (former footballers) are willing to help,” said Shafie when met at the State Flag handing over ceremony to the Malaysia Games (Sukma)-bound Sabah contingent in Likas near here.
Meanwhile, Shafie revealed he was not aware that his younger brother, Hamid Apdal, had stepped down as Safa deputy president just four days after being elected to the post recently.
According to the Chief Minister, he had only advised his brother to make way for more suitable individuals to be in the association but did not stop him from doing what he wished.
“I only gave him advice... I did not know he has resigned,” he said.
Towards this end, Shafie hoped that Safa leadership elected recently will be given the time and opportunity to perform their duties as they were selected by the delegates via a democratic process.
For the record, Alijus Sipil was elected as Safa’s new president with Hamid and Datuk Rahman Zakaria as the deputy presidents.