Tenom: Sabah aims to have at least 80 per cent local-born players in its State football squad as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots talent development.
State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaffar said the target reflected the State Government’s commitment to providing greater opportunities for local players to develop their potential.
He said the initiative was in line with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s aspiration to have the majority of the Sabah squad made up of home-grown players.
Jamawi said the move was intended to produce more Sabah players capable of competing in competitions such as the President’s Cup and the Super League.
“Achieving the 80 per cent target would help strengthen the State’s football development and produce more quality players to represent Sabah and the country,” he said.
He was speaking after officiating at the Sabah Schools Sports Council (MSS Sabah) Under-15 Football Championship, which brought together 23 teams from across the State in Tenom.
The tournament runs until Aug 7 and serves as an important platform to identify promising young players for the State development squad.
Jamawi said the championship was not only a healthy competition for young footballers but also an opportunity to discover, nurture and develop new talent to ensure the continued growth of football in Sabah.
