Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Football Association (Safa) will back the nomination of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Vice President Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub to head the national body next term.
Safa President Datuk Shahelmey Yahya made the announcement after attending the 12th Safa Annual Congress 2024 in Putatan, Saturday morning.
“In my adjournment speech earlier, I had touched on the nomination for FAM President from Sabah.
“We will support and will nominate Mohd Joehari to contest for the position of FAM President next year,” he said.
Joehari who was former Safa Vice President, and currently also holding the posts in FAM as chairman of the status committee, deputy chairman of the technical and development committee, manager of the national under-19 squad and a board member of Malaysia Football League (MFL) is among the names mentioned as the likely candidate to replace incumbent Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin who is unlikely to seek for re-election in the next FAM Congress scheduled in February.
It is believed that his name was suggested following a close-door meeting with several FA affiliate members, including representatives from the State Football Association (FA) last Sunday.
Shahelmey, who is also Deputy Chief Minister added that Safa will always strive to develop football in the state including the women players with the goal of getting more local talent to play at the state and national levels.
He also expressed his gratitude to all the Safa committees and also the representatives from the districts who were present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, RM5,000 were also handed out to the representatives from each district on Saturday in an effort to help them in their respective developing programmes.
Also present at the meeting were Joehari, FAM’s Deputy President Dato’ S.Sivasundaram Sithamparam Pillai, FAM’s Secretary General Datuk Noor Azman Hj Rahman and Safa ‘s Deputy President Datuk Awang Kadin Tang.
