KUCHING: Former national midfielder and Sarawak football icon, Joseph Kalang Tie, believes consistent match experience is key to youth football development – not just training drills.
As such, Joseph stressed the need for more corporate involvement to create consistent platforms for young players to compete and grow.
“I 100 per cent agree. After PETRONAS, I hope other corporate bodies whether private or government-linked can step in. We need more tournaments like this.
“We could even work towards a league system where kids can play every week or every year,” he told Sarawak Tribune today at the Sarawak State Stadium during an Under-12 match in the PETRONAS Youth Football Closed Tournament 2025.
While acknowledging the importance of training sessions for technical development, Joseph said they cannot replicate the lessons learned in real match situations.
“In training, we teach technique – passing, dribbling, shooting. But in tournaments, the kids apply it under pressure. That’s where they really learn,” he explained.
He added that match situations help young players develop decision-making skills and situational awareness, elements that cannot be fully taught during practice sessions.
“It’s different. In matches, they have to think fast, when to pass, when to shoot, how to position themselves. They grow from every game they play, especially when facing different opponents,” he said.
Drawing from his professional career that spanned more than a decade, Joseph believes exposure to varied playing styles and competition levels is what truly accelerates a young player’s growth.
“Take this tournament; one day they play a team like Basic, next they face Axis or Cascara. Different teams, different styles. The kids learn fast when they’re tested like that,” he said.
For the record, Joseph made a name for himself with Sarawak FA (2006-2007), Terengganu FA (2008-2011), Pahang FA (2017), and Selangor FA (2018), before concluding his career with Kuching City FC, where he played for five years.
He also made seven appearances for the national team, scoring two goals.
Now actively involved in youth development, Joseph hopes his message inspires more stakeholders to play a role in building the future of Sarawak football, one match at a time.
