Bung Moktar prioritised the welfare of Sabah FC players and coaches — Ong Kim Swee

KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin is remembered as a leader who consistently emphasised the welfare of Sabah FC players and coaches without interfering in the team’s technical affairs.

His commitment to ensuring the well-being of everyone in the team made him a respected and admired figure.

Former Sabah FC head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee shared his experience of working under Bung Moktar’s leadership when he was the Sabah Football Association (SAFA) President and expressed appreciation for his trust in the team.

“This proves that Datuk Bung never interfered in other matters, but ensured the welfare of players and coaches during my time with Sabah, where he always thought about what was best for everyone in the team,” he said when met by reporters at the grounds of Kota Kinabalu City Mosque here on Friday.

Ong, who also paid his respects to his former employer’s remains, shared his personal experience working with the late Bung Moktar.

“One of the reasons I returned after playing for Sabah was, of course, because the late Datuk Bung brought me back to serve under him, and to me, he was a fighter, a leader.

“From there, I developed a very good connection with Datuk Bung. This is certainly a great loss not only for the people of Sabah but for the football community,” he said.