Daily Express
Kota Kinabalu: Ex-Sabah senior team assistant coach Johnny Dominicus has signed a three-year deal with the Sarawak Football Association as their President Cup head coach on Tuesday morning.
The 40-year-old who was earlier reported to have been snatched up by the Perlis Football Association as their assistant coach clarified that he had never put pen to paper with the Northern state's side.
"I was there (Perlis) helping them during the selection trial for their 2014 Premier League squad and I was then offered a year contract but before I could make any decision, Sarawak officials tracked me down and asked to join them instead."
"They came with a better deal and what really convinced me to join them is their sincerity in wanting me to develop their junior squad in a long term basis with the offer of a three-year contact."
He said he will be given a free hand by the FA and his main target is to develop a winning team for the Sukma Games to be held in Sarawak in 2016.
The former State centre back who is no stranger to Sukma glory having guided the Sabah team to a historic win at the Pahang Sukma Games in 2012 said it was an honour to be given the trust by Sarawak FA to groom their junior players.
"I love the challenge and although it is definitely not an easy task, I believe with the support of the coaching staff and officials here, we will be on the right track to achieve our target."
He added that the selection process has already started and the players under his guidance are mostly 16-17 years old.
Johnny also said that he will love to come back to Sabah to coach the State team one day.
"Sabah is my home and I will definitely come back to lend my service to the State which has given me so much as a player and a coach."
He also conveyed his thanks to Sabah Football Association for their support during his tenure as the State assistant coach as well as President Cup coach.
The A licence coach was first drafted into the State coaching squad as Australia Gary Phillips' assistant back in 2011.
He subsequently took over from Justin Ganai as the President Cup head coach after the latter was asked to take over the senior team following the dismissal of Gary halfway through the season.
He was also the assistant to David McCreery in the 2013 season before he replaced him in June after the Irishman quit the team to return home citing personal reason.
