KUCHING: The Cahya Mata Football Cup Finals 2025 is bringing a fresh approach to community football by using a digital system to manage scores, player data, and team rankings helping reduce errors and ensure fair play.
The championship, which brings together 12 of the best teams from the earlier Community Cup series, is currently underway with group-stage action split into four groups of three teams each.
Participating teams earned their spots through qualifiers, namely Cahya Mata Cement Mambong Community Cup, Cahya Mata CMT Community Cup, Cahya Mata Properties Community Cup, and Cahya Mata Roads Community Cup held in May this year.
In a significant upgrade from traditional manual score-keeping, organisers invested in a customised tournament management app that handles everything from goals scored, player appearances, yellow and red cards, to match results and table standings.
The system even includes photographic verification, making it easier to validate key moments such as goals and disciplinary actions.
“This is a big step forward for our tournaments. With the app, everything is recorded in real time.
“It reduces confusion and arguments over scores, cards, or player eligibility and it really helps us stay organised,” said tournament director Fitry John Wayne.
Another key element of the championship is the emphasis on fair play and continuity.
Teams must retain the core of their original players who competed during the Community Cup phase, and are not allowed to bring in outside reinforcements just for the final.
This rule, said Fitry, preserves the integrity of each team and keeps the competition level.
“Players must represent the same teams they played for during the qualifiers.
“It’s about loyalty to your community and building real team chemistry over time,” Fitry added.
After a period of relative silence in local football development, the return of Cahya Mata Sarawak to the grassroots scene has been welcomed by players and fans alike.
Fitry said the tournament, held on June 28 at Fields C and D, and continuing on June 29 at Sarawak Stadium in Petra Jaya, not only celebrates local talent but also shows how technology can enhance sportsmanship and improve event management at the community level.
Group matches continued throughout today, with knockout stages to follow tomorrow (Sunday, June 29).
Champions of the tournament will be crowned, with digital records offering instant updates for players, fans and media.