KUCHING: Competitions across all age categories are essential not just for sporting growth but also for shaping the character and future of young individuals, says Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
Fazzrudin, who is also the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president said that competition is considered one of the most important factors in developing any sport, as it serves as the foundation for forming and strengthening teams.
“With competitions, teams train actively. And with sustainable, recurring competitions each year, they are able to plan ahead and work steadily toward their goals.
“This is important, especially for age categories such as 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18, as these are not just casual games as they are formative years that shape an individual.
“What happens during this period determines the kind of person and player they will become in 10 or 20 years, and that formation must be handled with care,” he said.
Fazrudin mentioned this during the Petronas Youth Football Closed Tournament (PYFCT) 2025 Team Introduction Ceremony PSK 14 & PSK 16 at Mydin Petra Jaya here yesterday (August 2).
He added that a player’s success is not built by individual effort alone, but also by the guidance of those around them, especially coaches and parents.
“We should instill a winning mentality in our children from a young age. But this must be balanced with character building and maturity in decision-making,” he added.
He also stressed the importance of producing not only technically skilled players but also emotionally and mentally resilient ones, especially in today’s social media-driven environment.
Meanwhile, Petronas Sarawak general manager Norazibah Md Rabu said that this year’s PSK14 and PSK16 tournament involves 600 players and coaches from 24 teams (12 in each category), representing 14 academies and schools from Kuching and Samarahan.
“This year, we are taking another step forward. The top three (3) teams in both the PSK14 and PSK16 Kuching editions will qualify for the next level which is the PETRONAS Youth Football Champions League 2025 (PYFCL’25).
“There, they will compete against the top teams from the PSK14 and PSK16 Bintulu editions, along with invited teams from outside.
“Therefore, Petronas would like to sincerely express our heartfelt appreciation to our strategic partners, the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED), the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS), Kuching Division Football Association (KDFA), Kuching City FC, Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), TV Sarawak (TVS), and Lea Sports Centre (LSC),” she said.
For the record, the Champions League matches will be held on weekends, from December 28 to January 3, 2026, at Sarawak Stadium and Stadium Negeri.
To stay updated with match schedules and results, the public can download the Easy Tournament app via Google Play or the App Store by searching for ‘PETRONAS Youth Football Closed Tournament 2025’ and clicking “Follow.”
