KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Football Association (SAFA) fired team manager George O'Callaghan and its import player from Singapore Fazrul Nawaz for breach of contract.
Sabah Rhinos chief executive officer Datuk Seri TC Goh said the duo was sacked for missing in action despite having contract with SAFA.
"They have been missing for a week and we will take the necessary action to report them to the FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) and FIFA (Federation International of Football Associations) accordingly," he told reporters after introducing Sabah's new line-up.
Goh also announced that he will be taking over O'Callaghan’s position as Sabah Premier League team manager with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the new Sabah team saw some new faces including six from the Peninsula, namely Perak-born Yoganathan Munusamy and Surendren Rasiah, Johor's Khairi Kiman, Terengganu's Shafuan Adli Dhaari, Kedah's Muhammad Shafiq Jamal, and Kelantan's Muhammad Izuan Mohd Salahuddin.
The team also welcomed El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf of Senegal, who played for Leeds United, former Hull City player Abdoulaye Diagne Faye, and former Shamrock Rovers player Eamon Zayed.