PETALING JAYA: Veteran goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (pic) is set to bid farewell to Sabah after a fruitful five years as he looks to spend more time with his family.
The 37-year-old, fondly known as Apek, hopes to be fielded in coach Juan Torres Garrido’s first 11 when they take on Terengganu in their final Super League match at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu on Friday.
“I do not know his plans yet. I am always on standby,” said Khairul. “If I am playing, I will give everything for the badge and bid my farewell to those who come to Likas.”
Khairul has enjoyed a decorated career spanning two decades since making his professional debut with Kelantan in 2005.
He rose to prominence as one of the country’s top goalkeepers during Kelantan’s golden era, helping the club win multiple domestic honours, including the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup titles.
On the international stage, Khairul etched his name into Malaysian football history after helping the national team win the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, Malaysia’s first South-East title, before playing a key role in the country’s gold medal triumph at the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia.
After a decade with Kelantan, he had a brief stint with Melaka United from 2018 to 2021 before joining Sabah in 2022, where he became an influential senior figure in the dressing room.
Reflecting on his time in Sabah, Khairul admitted leaving the club and their supporters would not be easy.
“I have a beautiful memory of Sabah and their fans are special and warm,” he said. “Sabah is a huge state and the supporters are very sporting. Even when we are down, they continue supporting us.”
Despite Sabah’s efforts to retain him, Khairul said family considerations ultimately influenced his decision.
“There are offers from many teams, but this time I am choosing what is best for me and my family,” he said.
“They were sad when they found out I am not staying on with Sabah, but at the same time happy because we can finally be together again. All this while, it has been a long-distance relationship.”
The veteran also reflected on the challenges of remaining relevant in professional football for more than 20 years, especially with the evolution of the modern game.
“It is not easy to stay in professional football for 20 years,” he said.
“Goalkeeping has changed a lot from the old style to the modern game, so I had to adapt constantly. It has been challenging, but with the help of coaches and friends, I managed to keep improving and adapting.”
