Kota Kinabalu: From Sabah football captain to assemblyman within just a month – that’s the fate that awaited Baddrol Bakhtiar who was a player in the victorious PN-PAS team in Saturday’s Kedah State election for the Gurun seat.
Daily Express was the first to report that Baddrol may be donning the Sabah jersey for the last time on July 16 when we reported that he was leaving the team suddenly.
No actual reason was offered except that Sabah FC’s management had mutually agreed to release him. Baddrol who spent most of his career with Kedah Darul Aman since 2005 and joined Rhinos on a free transfer last year.
Our report on July 15.
He was subsequently made skipper by coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee and scored 13 goals in 41 appearances.
Baddrol polled 16,443 votes to defeat Jerai Pakatan Harapan Chairman Firdaus Johari who garnered 10,758 votes.
Ong said he respected Baddrol’s decision and hailed his contribution to the team since he joined in 2022.
“It is not easy for Baddrol to make a choice to retire and I am certain what he did is for the good of his own future.
“So we have to respect his decision and as we all know he is not just a very good player but also a very good leader outside the pitch.
“He played a huge part in Sabah FC during his stay with us, and we will definitely miss him especially in the changing room .”
Baddrol received a memento from Sabah FC’s chief executive officer Marzuki Nasir after the match.
