PETALING JAYA: Sabah coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s future with the club has been sorted, albeit short-term, after the club announced he would stay on until the end of the Malaysian League season.
A special meeting between the Sabah Football Association (SAFA) and Sabah Football Club unanimously agreed to extend his contract until April 30 next year.
SAFA president Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said this decision was taken based on the good performance shown by the team at the moment.
“We have high confidence that Kim Swee will be able to improve the team’s position in the league table and thus be more enthusiastic about the Malaysia Cup campaign this year,” he said.Kim Swee, whose contract was supposed to end on Nov 30, has been instrumental in Sabah’s growth in recent years especially their performances in the Super League.
In 2022 and 2023, he helped the club to finish third in the Super League and 2023, he even got them to the AFC Cup where they played in the Asean zone semi-finals.
Kim Swee also has a strong bond with the players and fans, so it was inevitable for him to be offered a long deal to ensure that the club remain amongst the top teams in the league.
But Kim Swee, who was formerly the head coach of the national team and Harimau Muda, said he was happy to pen the deal with the club.
“I would like to thank them for their trust in me. I am looking forward to whatever plans they have for the team,” he said.
“Let’s focus on the current season and for me, the extension is a sign that they recognised my contribution to the club.
“I have a job to do now and that is to do well this season.”
Sabah are currently third in the league with 26 points from 14 games, just three points behind second-placed Selangor.
