KUCHING: From packed livestreams to wider regional participation, the PETRONAS Youth Football Champions League (PYFCL) 2025 has shown how strong partnerships can elevate youth football in Sarawak.
The achievements of the 2025 edition, along with the contributions of all those involved, were celebrated at the PYFCL Appreciation Dinner, recognising the support that has driven the tournament’s growth in scale, professionalism, and visibility across Sarawak.
PETRONAS Sarawak Regional Office senior manager Rhymie Rashidie Ibrahim, thanked the organisers and partners for their commitment, noting that their collective support had helped elevate the standard of the tournament.
Strong backing from football bodies such as the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) and the Kuching Division Football Association (KDFA) has been central to the smooth running of the competition, particularly in officiating, competition management, and youth engagement.
“We thank all our partners, football bodies, and institutions for their continued support in making PYFCL a success,” he told Sarawak Tribune when met at the appreciation dinner last night (Jan 16).
Media coverage helped raise the tournament’s profile, with TV Sarawak (TVS) reporting the event through news, billboards, and live broadcasts. Recent livestreams of the Under-14 and Under-16 finals attracted tens of thousands of viewers, with over a thousand watching from start to finish.
Rhymie said the digital reach demonstrated that youth football can attract strong public interest when presented professionally.
Facilities support was provided by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu Campus, while Lea Sports Centre (LSC) was acknowledged as a tournament partner.
The 2025 edition saw PYFCL expand successfully into Bintulu, showing the league’s commitment to including more regions. Support from the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) and the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS) helped strengthen the programme, especially in encouraging youth participation and linking it to education.
“I would like to thank Deputy Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, former MYSED permanent secretary Morshidi Fredrick, Kuching City FC’s chief executive officer Iswandi Ali Hassan, and Club president Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
“Football Development Officer of the Kuching Division Football Association (KDFA), coach Awang Azami Awang Idris, who has helped us tremendously, including Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), under Acting Chief Executive Officer Khairul Nizam Morshidi,” he said.
With growing corporate interest, new tournament partners, and increasing public engagement, Rhymie expressed confidence that continued collaboration between corporate partners, football bodies, and institutions will allow PYFCL to reach even greater heights in the coming years.
Also present at the event were PETRONAS Sarawak’s General Manager, Norazibah M. Rabu and Sarawak State Education director Omar Mahli.
