Sabah FC sign Rawilson as team captain

Sabah FC started tying their players with new contracts starting with team captain, Rawilson Batuil. The 26-year-old team captain from Kota Marudu became the first local player to sign a contract with Sabah FC.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah FC started tying their players with new contracts starting with team captain, Rawilson Batuil.

The Sabah Football Association (Safa) official Facebook page uploaded a statement on Thursday stating that the 26year-old team captain from Kota Marudu became the first local player to sign a contract with Sabah FC.

Rawilson has been with the Sabah team from the junior squad before being given the responsibility to lead the senior squad in 2017.

Other players started signing their contract yesterday (Friday).

The latest development follows the statement made by Safa acting president, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin who earlier had said that Sabah FC squad, led by former head coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, will be finalized middle of this month.

They are Rozaimie Rohim, Robson Rendy Rining, Jenius Karib, Randy Baruh @ Samson, Dendy Lowa, Mafry Bal;ang, Evan Wensley Wenceslaus, Alto

Linus, Sabri Sahar, Ariusdius Jais, Maxsius Musa, Ummareng Bacok, Mohd Azwan Fatah, Ricco Nigel Milu, Mohd Azizan Nordin, Rahman Shah Marajeh and Mohd Syukri Baharun, who were part of last season squad.

Several former Sabah players were also seen training with the new squad including Bobby Gonzales, while the only import player maintain was defender Park Tae Su, from South Korea.

It is understood that Sabah FC is trying to get several imported players to strengthen the team, including from Indonesia for the Southeast Asian quota.

Teams in the Super League competition are allowed to have five imported players including one quota for Asia and one from Southeast Asia.

Bung said a ceremony to introduce the players and launching of the team's official jersey will be held on February 14.

Meanwhile, the Safa Congress is scheduled to take place on February 27 where there will be elections for the 2021-2023 session.

Rawilson and Sabah FC team manager, Ahmad Marzuki Nasir (right) after signing the contract which was uploaded on Safa’s official Facebook page last Thursday.