KOTA KINABALU ─ Businessman, Datuk Verdon Bahanda, who held the post of Sabah FC CEO for five weeks, is in the midst of setting up his own private football club.
Bahanda named the new team as Kinabalu Jaguar FC and has set up a company called Kinabalu Jaguar FC Sdn Bhd to run the affairs of his new club.
“I have total ownership,” he told The Vibes, today.
“The team was set up not to get back at any particular parties or individuals; I’m doing this for the love of the game,” he added.
Rumours were already swirling over Bahanda’s plan to re-enter the football scene after abruptly stepping down as Sabah FC CEO.
He officially announced his non-involvement with Sabah FC on Dec 21.
It is believed that Bahanda’s resignation was in connection with Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who was appointed acting president of SAFA, the state football governing body.
Bahanda has hinted at plans to set up a football team on Christmas Day and wrote on Facebook that the football team would have the team’s fan club as shareholder and part manager.
Then on December 27, Bahanda unveiled the name of his team on his Facebook page: Kinabalu Jaguar FC.
He wrote: ‘My steps will not be stopped by an obstacle created by human…’, believed to be referring to his removal from Sabah FC.
Bung, who was named SAFA acting president on Dec 14, has hinted at plans to revamp the state football scene and SAFA.
Bahanda, as Sabah FC CEO, had taken up a 70% stake in the club ─ a process which involved a RM3 million payout ─ according to inside sources.
It was learnt that Bahanda’s decision to step down as CEO came after a brief meeting with Bung on Dec 12. ─ The Vibes, 29 December, 2020
