By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 14: Young players in the PETRONAS Youth Football Closed Tournament 2024 should embrace the spirit of ‘Ngap Sayot’ to elevate the sport while making the most of this opportunity to enhance their skills and advance their football journey.
Sarawak Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu emphasided this during the tournament’s opening ceremony at Sarawak Stadium last night (Sept 13).
‘Embrace the spirit of ‘Ngap Sayot’—a slogan cherished by Sarawak football supporters since the 1980s—to improve the sport and strive to become champions one day,” he said.
The inaugural PETRONAS Youth Football Closed Tournament, held from Sept 14 to Nov 16, coincides with the multinational company’s 50th anniversary.
The tournament features 56 teams from 23 football academies and schools in Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman, competing across four age categories: Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, and Under 16.
In ensuring the success of the tournament, PETRONAS has forged a strategic partnership with the Kuching District Football Association (KDFA), Kuching City Football Association (KCFC), Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) under MYSED, as well as TVS.
Rentap further expressed hopes that PETRONAS will organise a larger football tournament for youth in Sarawak next year, building on the success of this year’s inaugural event.
Meanwhile, PETRONAS Sarawak general manager Norazibah Md Rabu said the football tournament offers a unique opportunity for football academies to showcase the remarkable quality of their young players and the credibility for the coaches.
“It provides these athletes with the platform they deserve, offering pathways to advanced training and even the possibility of professional careers.
“Our goal is simple yet profound: to create a nurturing environment where young talent can grow, where every match played not only sharpens their skills but also builds their character, discipline, and teamwork—qualities that will serve them both on and off the field,” she said.
The opening ceremony featured an exhibition match with legendary players from the iconic Sarawak teams ‘Ngap Sayot’ and ‘Bujang Senang’ playing against a team selected by the tournament organisers.
The legends included Affandi Jol, Jackson Maxwell, Daud Hamid, Fairunizam Junaidi, Irwandy Jampaka, Shukri Padel, Khamizan Abu Bakar, Subian Putit, Buseman Ismail, Mohd Ali Sapiee, Jafari Ali, Roslan Ismail, Abdul Razak Ismail, Ismawi Jamali, Malik Omon, Louis Jakai, Roslan Hamdan, Aedi Julaihi, Ramos Sari, and Ramles Sari.
The organiser team comprised of Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, SSC chief executive officer Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan, TVS chief media officer Mohamad Sardon Zainal, Nor Azam Abg Zawawie, Rhymie Rashidie Ibrahim, Azaidie Selli, Zapri Manai, Zaidel Sakup, Abdul Jalil Rambli, Dahlan Matussin, Nizam Mahmud, Joseph Kalang Tie, Ramesh Lai, Shamsuddin Ali, Joshua Kudi, Hamirul, Hadi, Azayn and M Hairol Mokhtar.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Satok assemblyman Dato Ibrahim Baki, PETRONAS’s Head of Integrated Hydrocarbon Management Anuar Ismail, and MYSED permanent secretary Morshidi Fredrick. – DayakDaily
