KOTA KINABALU – Sabah FC is looking at about RM50 million to develop a football stadium of their own.
However, its chief executive officer, Ahmad Marzuki Nasir was unable to reveal the timeline of the development as they are still obtaining more information to acquire a piece of land near the Likas Stadium.
Marzuki added that the idea was mooted by the previous CEO Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, currently deputy tourism, arts, and culture minister, to house 15,000 to 20,000 people.
“The plan is indeed for us to build our own stadium because we have spent a lot by renting the existing stadium.
“We want a place of our own where we will be able to control rights for our own food store and merchandise store. It would also be equipped with a proper gym, an office, and a locker room.
“There is a plot of land near the Likas Stadium that we have enquired about through the Sabah Football Association (Safa) since last year for us to develop… approximately 9 acres.
“But that depends on the approval of the state government as it belongs to the local community,” he said when met at the Bola in the City launch here, yesterday.
Marzuki compared the idea to that of Craven Cottage, a training ground in Fulham, West London in England, which has been the home of Fulham FC.
He added that he will be able to get more information regarding the process of acquiring the land and developing the new stadium after Safa’s annual general meeting next month.
“Next month is the annual general meeting of the football association, during which we will know more about the direction of this association.
“In the meantime, the state government has already approved an allocation to refurbish Likas Stadium about two months ago, though I am not sure how much.
“This is to enable Sabah FC’s preparations ahead of the AFC Cup in September which Likas Stadium will host,” he added.
Likas Stadium is a multipurpose stadium that was opened in 1983 and has a capacity of 22,000.
It will soon be upgraded in preparation for the AFC Cup in September and in compliance with the specifications set by the Malaysian Football League and the Asian Football Confederation. – The Vibes, April 29, 2023
