KUCHING: Young footballers are back in action as the PETRONAS Youth Football Closed Tournament (PYFCT) 2026 resumed here today following a temporary postponement due to poor air quality.
In a statement issued by the organisers today, the tournament, featuring the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 categories, is being held at the C and D Football Fields and Kuching District Football Association (KDFA) football field.
The resumption gives young players another opportunity to compete, develop their skills, and build confidence in a competitive environment.
A total of 40 teams are taking part across the three categories, comprising 16 teams in the Under-12 category, 12 in Under-14 and another 12 in Under-16.
The competition began with the Under-16 category at Padang D at 8:00 am, followed by the Under-14 matches at Padang C at 10:00 am and the Under-12 matches at KDFA at 2:00 pm.
The tournament follows a group-stage format before progressing to the knockout rounds, with the finals and prize presentation scheduled for a later date.
PYFCT is part of ongoing efforts to support grassroots football development by providing young players with opportunities to gain competitive experience while developing values such as teamwork, discipline, perseverance and sportsmanship.
The Kuching leg is part of a wider PYFCT programme held across Sarawak, with tournaments organised in different age categories in Kuching, Bintulu and Mukah.
In Kuching, the Under-8 and Under-10 competitions were held in July, with Cascara Junior crowned Under-8 champions and Samarahan Academy emerging as Under-10 champions.
The tournament will continue in Kuching through October, with the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 categories forming part of the ongoing competition.
The top two teams in the Under-14 and Under-16 categories will qualify for the PETRONAS Youth Football Champions League 2026, scheduled to take place from December 6 to 13.
