By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 18: The Cahya Mata Cup 2026 has further cemented its status as Malaysia’s largest amateur football tournament after expanding to eight states this year.
According to TVS, the expansion strengthens the tournament’s role as a platform for developing amateur football talent while providing promising players with a pathway to the professional level.
Sarawak Zone Technical Coordinator Awg Zaifulizan Abdul Rahman Awg Mohd said the success of last year’s tournament in Sarawak had paved the way for its expansion to include Sabah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Kelantan, and the combined Kuala Lumpur-Selangor zone.
“We hope to continue strengthening the football community and provide a pathway for amateur players so their talents can be showcased at a higher level,” he told TVS after the launch of the Sarawak-level Cahya Mata Cup 2026 here today.
According to Awg Zaifulizan, 32 teams are competing in the Sarawak edition this year, while each participating state has attracted between more than 20 and 32 teams, through collaboration with state football associations and local organising partners.
He said the tournament’s free entry allows more amateur teams to compete in a professionally organised competition without the burden of participation fees.
Meanwhile, Cahya Mata aims to eventually expand the tournament nationwide, making it one of Malaysia’s leading grassroots football development platforms.
Hipmau FC captain Alex Bong said his team is ready to defend its title after undergoing consistent training in preparation for this year’s competition.
“We came with the target of becoming champions once again. The competition is certainly broader than last year’s tournament, which only involved Sarawak teams, but we have prepared well, and I am confident in the team’s ability,” he said.
Bong, who captained Hipmau FC to last year’s title, described the tournament’s expansion to the national level as a major source of motivation and confidence for his team as they seek to retain the championship.
At the same event, Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad Group Head of Corporate Communications Jason Lee said the Cahya Mata Cup was established not only to identify the best teams but also to unite the amateur football community.
“From a small initiative in Mambong to a tournament that has flourished nationwide, we as organisers are very proud to provide such a platform for state representatives,” he said during the launch ceremony.
In line with promoting a healthy lifestyle, he added that random drug screenings will be conducted throughout the tournament, with any team found to have a player who tests positive being immediately disqualified to ensure a fair and transparent competition.
For the 2026 edition, state champions will receive RM20,000 in prize money, while the overall Cahya Mata Cup champion will take home the RM100,000 grand prize. The tournament offers a total prize pool of RM744,000.
The state-level competition will run from July to November 2026, with the top four teams advancing to the Grand Final, which is scheduled to be held in Kuching.
