Qhazanah Sabah Berhad chairman Datuk Yusof Yacob (second right) presenting the mock cheque to Sabah FC director Mohd Joh Wid (left), while Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (third left) looks on.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Football Association (Safa) will be receiving half a million ringgit in sponsorship every year from Qhazanah Sabah Berhad (QSB), a state government-linked corporation.
QSB chairman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob said the annual sponsorship would help boost the performance of the Sabah football team to regain its past glory.
Dr Yusof presented the sponsorship to Sabah FC director Mohd Joh Wid, witnessed by Safapresident and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, as well as QSB Group chief executive officer Ahmad Rizal Dahli.
"We realise that sports, especially football, require funding. Today, QSB Group is presenting a contribution of RM500,000 to Safa as decided by our board of directors, which is within our means at the moment.
"Hopefully the figure will increase when QSB generates more profits in the future," he said at QSB Group's Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Kaamatan celebration at Menara Kinabalu on Friday (May 10).
Dr Yusof, who is also Sindumin assemblyman, said QSB is currently undergoing transformation and adopting new business strategies.
"This includes activating all subsidiary companies as profit centres and contributing revenue to the QSB Group and will ultimately contribute dividends to the state government. That is our goal," he said.
Meanwhile, Shahelmey said the contribution from QSB was meaningful for Safa, especially for Sabah FC, ahead of the 2024-2025 football season.
"I express my gratitude to QSB for this contribution," he said.
