FANS URGED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AS SABAH FC OWNER

KOTA KINABALU, May 4 (Bernama) -- Supporters are called on to carry out their responsibilities as 'owners' of Sabah FC including ensuring that the team can generate revenue and not to create any negative impact for the team.

Its director Mohd Joh Wid said the call was made because the management was still facing problems involving supporters who gave negative impact to the Rhinos, including using fake tickets or entering the stadium without a ticket, while buying fake club items which affected the team's income significantly.

He said the management sees Sabah supporters as 'owners' who have a social equity stake in the team, therefore the supporters are called upon to cooperate with the management in an effort to eliminate the problems faced.

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"Not all, there are loyal supporters who buy original home and away tickets besides purchasing genuine souvenirs of the club and this should be a model as all supporters have social equity in Sabah FC and a share in our team.

"The income generated is to sustain and develop club. But there are quarters who sell counterfeit goods outside the stadium during the match which supporters should not patronise. When we love the team, this is the time to prove it, support our team wholeheartedly," he told Bernama.

Mohd Joh said the management is currently also trying to bring the Sabah team closer to the supporters by taking the team on a tour to areas outside Kota Kinabalu, the latest in Keningau on April 23.

"During the season break, our league will also be going to Sandakan and Tawau," said Mohd Joh who organised various activities for supporters as well as friendly matches with local teams, including Keningau FA at that time, which Sabah won 10-2.

He said indeed Sabah faced a limited financial situation in going through the 2024/2025 Malaysia League competition which will start with a match against Penang FC on May 12, but he insisted that the situation did not affect the team's preparations.

He said the management is also looking for sponsors and several parties have come forward to help the team, therefore he is asking more parties, especially corporate bodies, to come forward as partners and sponsors of the team.

"We have also put ESG as our policy which is environment, social and governance in managing this team. We are close to supporters in addition to environmental, social and good governance and club management activities," he said.

Meanwhile, Sabah head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said he believes the management is working in an effective way to overcome problems and ensure the smooth running of the team, especially financially, and hopes the fans will support the effort.

"My opinion is of course that I want a lot of high quality players but we have to understand that the management puts conditions and expenses to ensure the team's journey runs smoothly, so as coaches we have to respect that.

"Currently we no longer take any players unless there are changes or instructions from the management," he said who also wants to give opportunities to young Sabah players to join the team but it depends on the potential and effort shown by them.

He said at the moment Sabah has not set any targets to be achieved in the Super League and he believes the team is capable of competing with other teams that spend heavily in the league.

In last season's Super League, Sabah finished third behind Selangor FC in second place, and Johor Darul Ta'zim who won the league for 10 consecutive seasons.

-- BERNAMA