KUALA LUMPUR: Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (Cahya Mata) is strengthening its commitment to youth and sports development by launching both a professional women’s track cycling team and the nationwide Piala Cahya Mata 2026 grassroots football tournament.
The initiatives, unveiled on Friday (May 22) through its wholly-owned subsidiary Cahya Mata Cement Sdn Bhd, reflect the company’s commitment to developing sports, promoting healthy lifestyles, and strengthening communities.
Leading the newly formed Team Cahya Mata is Malaysian cycling star, Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, currently ranked world No. 14 and a two-time Asian Championship gold medallist.
She will be joined by fellow riders Aliana Azizan, Anis Rosidi and Amber Yong under the Team Cahya Mata banner over the next three years as they prepare for international competitions leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Nurul Izzah recently enhanced her growing reputation after winning bronze in the Keirin event at the Japan Track Cup 1 & 2.
The initiative represents a bold step in Cahya Mata’s wider brand elevation journey, showcasing its dedication to performance and resilience.
At the same event, Cahya Mata also launched Piala Cahya Mata 2026, a community football tournament open to non-professional Malaysian male players.
The dual initiative reflects Cahya Mata’s commitment to using sports as a platform for youth development, healthy lifestyles, and community building.
Following the strong response to the inaugural Cahya Mata Football Cup in Kuching last year, Cahya Mata is expanding the tournament nationwide through Piala Cahya Mata 2026, which will run from July to November 2026.
Held in a league format, the tournament will take place concurrently across Malaysia, with state champions advancing to a knockout stage before the Grand Finals in Kuching.
Open exclusively to Malaysian male citizens aged 16 to 35, the tournament is designed to provide a competitive platform for non-professional grassroots players.
Teams may also field up to five players above the age of 35 to encourage mentorship and skills transfer between generations.
In total, more than RM700,000 in prize money will be awarded throughout the tournament, with the national champion taking home RM100,000 and each state-level winning team receiving RM20,000.
The tournament is expected to attract approximately 11,200 players and team officials nationwide.
Registration for Piala Cahya Mata 2026 is now open, with the tournament scheduled to officially kick off in July 2026.
To encourage wider participation nationwide, there will be no registration fees for participating teams.
Beyond competition, Piala Cahya Mata 2026 is designed to provide a positive and healthy environment for young Malaysians.
In collaboration with the relevant authorities, the tournament will incorporate drug awareness programmes and random drug screenings throughout the competition.
Group Managing Director of Cahya Mata, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib said Piala Cahya Mata 2026 is about more than football.
“We believe sport is one of the most powerful tools to steer young Malaysians towards a healthy, drug-free life. Through this tournament, we hope to bring communities together while creating more opportunities for local talent to compete and grow,” he said.
Through both initiatives, Cahya Mata reaffirmed its commitment to sports as a meaningful platform for youth development and community building.
