Sabah’s Medical Revolution Sets the Stage for the Super Bowl

1 December 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Big changes often begin in small ways. For Sabah FC, one of Malaysia’s leading football clubs, it started with a single agreement — a partnership with European Wellness, a medical group renowned for anti-ageing and precursor stem cell therapy.

That one decision is now reshaping the world of sports medicine. What began quietly in Sabah is now heading towards the biggest sporting stage in the United States: the Super Bowl. And behind it all is a man who has spent more than four decades preparing for this moment — Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan.

In late 2025, Sabah FC signed a deal with the European Wellness Premier Centre (EWPC) in Kota Kinabalu. The aim was simple: to help players recover faster, prevent injuries and maintain peak performance throughout the season.

This approach went beyond physical therapy, focusing instead on strengthening the body from within. The club became the first in Malaysia to adopt bioregenerative medicine, a medical method centred on healing, restoring and rebuilding the body at the cellular level.

Sabah FC’s General Manager, Md Joh Wid, put it plainly. “We want our players to come in good condition and leave in good condition.” Prof. Mike Chan echoed the sentiment, saying: “Real endurance isn’t just about stamina. It’s about staying strong, even in extra time.”

The players’ new four-step programme, Diagnose, Detox, Repair, Rejuvenate, has transformed their training and recovery routine. They now undergo full health assessments to detect issues early, eliminate harmful substances that slow recovery, receive targeted treatments to speed up the healing of muscles and organs, and finish with therapies designed to boost energy, focus and strength from within.

These often include natural methods such as oxygen therapy and advanced nutritional support.

Traditional training and rehabilitation typically deal with what can be seen — sore muscles, swelling or sprains. But unseen factors such as organ fatigue, stress hormones and long-term wear and tear are rarely addressed.

Prof. Chan’s methods fill this gap. Already used by celebrities and top executives, they now benefit professional footballers as well. His approach helps reduce fatigue, speed up recovery, sharpen mental focus, strengthen joints and restore hormonal balance. Crucially, each programme is tailored specifically to the individual athlete.

Just as the Sabah FC partnership began drawing attention, Prof. Chan received an invitation from the United States. Leigh Steinberg, the legendary NFL agent who inspired the film Jerry Maguire, asked him to speak during Super Bowl Week 2026, addressing NFL teams, doctors and athletes.

The NFL has been searching for effective solutions to one of the sport’s biggest challenges: concussions and brain injuries.

Prof. Chan has spent years developing brain-targeted treatments, using safe, organ-specific cell therapy to assist individuals with memory loss, autism and sports-related brain trauma.

As he explains, “You can’t treat all injuries with the same solution. A knee needs knee treatment. A brain needs brain therapy. Precision matters.”

The implications for global sport are significant. Thanks to Sabah FC, Southeast Asia is emerging as a leader in next-generation athlete care. With the worldwide spotlight of the Super Bowl, more sports are beginning to take notice. Rugby, mixed martial arts and even Olympic teams may soon explore similar medical approaches to keep athletes stronger, more focused and injury-free for longer. Prof. Chan’s centre in Kota Kinabalu is already being recognised as ASEAN’s hub for elite athlete regeneration.

The year 2025 marked the beginning. The year 2026 may be the breakthrough. The science is ready, the results are promising, and the sports world is opening up to new ideas. Athletes deserve more than rest and painkillers; they deserve true recovery. And thanks to Prof. Mike Chan, that future is rapidly becoming a reality.