ASAJAYA: Plans to develop a new Olympic-sized football pitch with floodlights in Kampung Sambir signal a bigger push to elevate grassroots football in Samarahan.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the initiative reflects broader efforts to improve community sports facilities across Sarawak.
He noted that Kampung Sambir is among the few village venues capable of hosting night matches due to the availability of proper lighting.
“At present, not many village fields have floodlights for night matches. Kampung Sambir would be among the few with such facilities, and it serves not just Samarahan but the wider Sarawak community,” he said in his address before the Asajaya Unity Cup final on Sunday (Apr 5).
Abdul Karim said the new Olympic-sized pitch, to be developed within the next two to three years, will replace the existing field and enhance the area’s capacity to host larger tournaments.
He added that while similar requests may come from other villages, the facility in Kampung Sambir is intended to serve as a centralised, higher-standard venue for grassroots football.
The announcement comes amid strong public support for the long-running Asajaya Unity Cup, which has been held for over 60 years and continues to draw large crowds from across Kuching, Asajaya and surrounding areas.
Abdul Karim also commended the organisers, including the village development committee, mosque committee and government agencies, for their role in ensuring the success of the tournament.
“This tournament clearly shows the strong support from the community, and with improved facilities, it can be taken to an even higher level,” he said.
