KUCHING: Sarawak football legend Abdul Jalil Ramli has proposed the introduction of structured workshops for coaches and match officials to further elevate the standard of grassroots football tournaments.
Jalil, who famously captained Sarawak to their historic 1992 FA Cup triumph and later led the team to the 2001 Malaysia Cup final, shared his views after witnessing the enthusiastic turnout and talent on display at the Under-8 PETRONAS Youth Closed Tournament 2025, held at Sarawak Stadium today.
“What I see is the potential for improvement not just in the game itself, but in how it’s organised,” he said.
“A workshop – involving all coaches and tournament officials – would allow us to share ideas, improve understanding, and raise the overall quality of youth competitions.”
He suggested that the workshops be facilitated by football experts from Sarawak and even include invited professionals from outside the state.
“It’s not only about refining gameplay techniques.
“It’s also about building up the professionalism and presentation of these tournaments so that they can attract more attention – especially from private sector sponsors beyond just PETRONAS,” he told reporters on the touchline.
Jalil praised PETRONAS for taking the lead in supporting grassroots football but emphasised that more backing is needed at all levels.
“Football has changed. It now demands financial investment, not just at the elite level, but especially at the grassroots and outreach levels.
“We need support from companies, fans, and most importantly, parents, to sustain and grow these programmes,” he added.
When asked about the future of the young talents spotted at the Under-8 event, Jalil called for consistency and follow-through in their development.
“We hope parents won’t stop here. Their children must continue training as they move up to Under-12 and beyond.
“The training structure will change, and so will the demands of the sport,” he said.
He warned that without proper continuity, promising players may lose momentum or direction.
“We see how much fun these children have; they love the game. But they need to be guided the right way, with discipline and structure,” he stressed.
Jalil also reminded parents that while football is important, education must remain the top priority.
“Let’s not forget, school and learning must come first. But seeing the growth in football academies across Sarawak is a good sign. It shows the sport is still thriving, and the role of parents remains vital,” he added.
He called upon all stakeholders, including the government, clubs, sponsors, and families, to work together to sustain the momentum and passion shown at tournaments like the PETRONAS Under-8 match.
