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Veteran goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat prioritizes family for next club
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Sports

Veteran goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat prioritizes family for next club

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Veteran goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat prioritizes family in choosing his next club after leaving Sabah FC.
  • The 37-year-old aims to play closer to his family for the 2026-27 season, considering their sacrifices during his time in Borneo.
  • Despite his age, he feels capable of competing at the highest level and wants to prove his continued ability.

Veteran Malaysian goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, affectionately known as Apek, is prioritizing family in his career decisions after concluding his tenure with Sabah FC. After nearly five years away from his family to play in Borneo, the experienced 37-year-old aims to return closer to home for the 2026-27 season.

There are several offers for next season, but I will definitely choose one that is close to my family because when I was in Sabah, they sacrificed a lot for me, willing to live far away for a long time.

— Khairul Fahmi Che MatExplaining his criteria for selecting his next club.

Khairul Fahmi acknowledged receiving several offers from Malaysian League clubs. However, his decision will not solely be based on footballing aspects. He emphasized the importance of considering his family's sacrifices, who have consistently supported him throughout his time playing in Sabah.

So, now it's time for me to sacrifice for them, and at the same time, it's my intention to play and prove that I can still perform, even at the highest level.

— Khairul Fahmi Che MatStating his desire to prioritize his family and continue his playing career.

"There are several offers for next season, but I will definitely choose one that is close to my family because when I was in Sabah, they sacrificed a lot for me, willing to live far away for a long time," Khairul Fahmi stated. "So, now it's time for me to sacrifice for them, and at the same time, it's my intention to play and prove that I can still perform, even at the highest level."

age is not a barrier to competition, and we know that for the goalkeeper position in leagues outside the country, there are still those who are 40 years old but playing in the highest league.

— Khairul Fahmi Che MatAddressing concerns about his age and ability to compete.

He believes age is not a barrier to competition, citing examples of goalkeepers in their 40s still playing in top leagues abroad. His motivation remains rooted in his family's unwavering support for his continued career. Despite approaching 38, Khairul Fahmi has no immediate plans to retire and is eager to demonstrate his competitive edge.

My motivation now is also for my family because they always support me to keep playing until now.

— Khairul Fahmi Che MatHighlighting his family's influence on his continued career.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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