New Sabah Times
KOTA KINABALU: Alijus Haji Sipil has been named as the new team manager for the Sabahawks.
However, the New Sabah Times Sports reliably learnt that his appointment is only temporary.
It is believed that the FA is still looking for a more suitable name in leading the team for the new season.
Well, the FA secretary general may be seen as the right man and has all the credentials and qualities to guide the new-look State side. However, it is believed that time may be his main obstacle in guiding the team.
Alijus, who was the team manager of the State side that won the Sukma gold medal in Pahang not too long ago, is one of the directors at the City Hall and may not have enough time to be with the team, especially when they are playing away matches.
Being the secretary general of the association is already taking its toll on him, and adding the burden of being the manager (of the team) it could be a little too much for him to take.
But having said that if the FA could not find their man, then Alijus will still be the best choice to hold the post at least for the rest of the 2013 season.
When contacted yesterday, the FA executive secretary Hasbullah Yahya confirmed that Alijus was named to lead the Sabah team for the 2013 season when they submitted the team’s registration with the FA of Malaysia recently.
However, Hasbullah when pressed further refused to give more details apart from Alijus’ case as well as that of the 2012 team manager Yahya Kassim who has been named as the assistant team manager.
It is also believed that Johnny Dominicus is being named as the assistant coach to head coach David McCreery while Andrew Majanggim the fitness coach.
Mark Damun is rumoured to be the goalkeeper coach replacing Khairul Azman Mohd who has thus joined Johor Darul Takzim.
The State’s full squad will be officially announced at a function, which is to be graced by the FA President Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman at a leading hotel scheduled for Tuesday.
