A New Era of Sports Science Begins in Sabah: Sabah FC Partners with European Wellness to Boost Player Recovery and Stamina

KOTA KINABALU, Sabah (Nov 21, 2025) — Sabah Football Club has launched a new era of sports science, formalizing a biomedical partnership with the European Wellness Premier Center (EWPC) to strengthen player rehabilitation and high-performance conditioning for the 2025–26 season.

The official agreement was signed at EWPC’s facility in Alamesra between Prof Mike Chan and Sabah FC General Manager Tuan Md Joh Haji Wid, witnessed by senior club officials and representatives from the Sabah Football Association (SAFA).

State Football Leaders in Attendance

Attendees included: Head Coach, Sabah FC, Daniel Jean Paul Desvaux De Marigny (JP Marigny); Sabah FC Technical Director, Scott William Ollerenshaw; Secretary-General SAFA, Tuan Shamsuddin Bin Mohd Shah; and Team Manager, Sabah FC, Datuk Viktor Ationg.

Under the partnership, EWPC will provide movement analysis, musculoskeletal screening, body composition assessments and multi-modal recovery treatments including cryotherapy, HBOT, PEMF and peptide-based repair support. The services fall under the centre’s DDRR system — Diagnose, Detox, Repair and Rejuvenate — intended to address inflammation, long-term injury and overall athletic fatigue.

Sabah FC officials said the collaboration reflects growing demand for structured medical support in Malaysian football and is expected to reduce recovery times and improve player resilience.

Players Fast-Tracked Into Treatment

Seven Sabah FC players also came for their scheduled Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) sessions. The attending players included: Dominic Tan (Captain), Rawilson Batuil, Fergus Tierney, Ajdin Mujagic, Daniel Ting, Stuart Wilkin and Miguel Cifuentes.

We Want Our Players to be in Good Condition

During his speech, Sabah FC’s General Manager Tuan Md Joh said: “We want our players to come in good condition — and leave in good condition. That is why this partnership is so important for us.”

“We welcome European Wellness as an important partner in our push for higher performance,” he said, adding the partnership addresses a need the club has long struggled to meet on its own. “We didn’t have the budget for hyperbaric systems or advanced equipment. But we had faith — and a partner who believed in Sabah FC.”

The agreement also reflected the club’s ambition to professionalise its medical setup. “This validates our aim to be among the best in Malaysia, not only in competition but also in sports science,” he added.

Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan said the partnership will focus on therapies that strengthen the heart, lungs, adrenal system and cognitive function, key contributors to stamina, endurance and on-field focus.

Elite Medical Science for Modern Football

During his speech, Prof Mike Chan explained: “The demands of today’s game require not only skill but consistent physical resilience. This partnership gives our players access to world-class recovery systems to stay strong throughout the season.”

“These therapies are designed to enhance stamina, improve lung and heart efficiency, support adrenal resilience and sharpen cognitive focus,

But it’s not just stamina — endurance matters. The treatments are also designed to help players run faster in the second half, stay strong through extra time, and maintain performance on the field when it counts the most,” adding that science-based performance optimisation is becoming integral to modern football.

A Global Biomedical Network Supporting Sabah

European Wellness currently operates 40 plus centres worldwide, including in Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Uganda and many others. He said the network helps maintain consistent biomedical standards across regions.

Prof Mike Chan’s work in high-performance sports has extended internationally. Together with American sports agent Leigh Steinberg, he co-authored a book on concussion — the first of three titles on sports medicine and athlete recovery. He has been invited to speak during NFL Super Bowl Week on February 7, 2026, an event expected to draw more than 148 million viewers.

“Regenerative medicine in sport is advancing quickly,” said Prof. Mike Chan. “We’re glad to share what we’ve learned with athletes everywhere — whether in the NFL or right here with Sabah FC.”

A Symbolic Exchange for a New Chapter

“There’s no reason Sabah cannot win. The government has shown support, the club has leadership, and we provide the science,” he added that world-class recovery facilities could position Kota Kinabalu as a regional hub for sports rehabilitation.

“Anything related to health, performance or well-being — we are ready to collaborate. We want to support the technical team in a way that shows results on the pitch,” said Prof. Chan.

“European Wellness will work closely with the coaching staff to monitor recovery cycles, manage training loads and support long-term player health,” he added.

A Long-Term Roadmap for Sabah Football

Tuan Md Joh Haji Wid agreed, saying the MOU marks only the first phase of a longer roadmap. The partnership is more than access to treatment. It’s a support system for the entire squad. “With European Wellness as our partner, we finally have the tools to reduce recovery time and keep players at peak condition,”

“If we continue on this path, Sabah FC will not only perform better — we will set a new standard for football development in Malaysia.”

Following the MoU signing, media representatives toured EWPC’s diagnostic laboratories, HBOT chambers and rehabilitation suites.