SANDAKAN: A significant step towards preserving and elevating Sabah’s football legacy has been initiated through a meeting involving former players from Sandakan who once represented the State.
The meeting was held with the Sandakan District Football Association (PBDS), represented by its Vice President Rusli Hassan, along with experienced coaches Roslee Amat and Hamizan Hamidin.
The session followed an official presentation to PBDS on a proposed project to compile data on former Sabah players, as well as the development of the SDK Football Gallery aimed at documenting the history and contributions of past players for future generations.
The project is an initiative by Musketeers Football Academy, led by its president Hardy Pudar, and has received support from PBDS as a strategic partner in efforts to strengthen local football heritage.
Hardy said several follow-up programmes are also being planned to revive the football community spirit, including a Hi-Tea gathering, a Legends Charity Match, and a Community Cup that will feature former players as inspirational icons.
In addition, a special publication compiling profiles of former players, as well as visitation programmes and recorded video biographies, are in the pipeline to ensure their stories and contributions continue to be remembered.
The SDK Football Gallery initiative is expected to become an important platform in preserving Sandakan’s football history while bridging past and present generations within a more structured and identity-driven ecosystem.
