KUCHING: The Sarawak Government remains committed to further strengthening the development of football in the state as part of its efforts to produce more professional players from among local talents.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari, said that continued support for the organisation of leagues and competitions at the state level provides the best platform to identify and nurture young Sarawakian talent.

According to him, the introduction of the Sarawak Premier League serves as an important avenue in building a more structured and competitive football ecosystem.

“This league will continue to receive our support because we want to see more Sarawakian talents emerge as professional footballers in the future,” he said when speaking at the final of the Premier Sarawak Cup at Stadium Negeri Sarawak here on Sunday.

The inaugural final saw Samarahan FA take on Bintulu FA, with Bintulu FA emerging victorious after securing a 3–1 win.

Meanwhile, he also extended his congratulations to Kuching City FC for advancing to the semi-finals of the Malaysia Cup after eliminating DPMM FC, demonstrating that teams from Sarawak are capable of competing on the national stage.

In the same development, President of the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS), Dato Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, said the competition, which began in September 2025, brought together 13 teams, comprising six from the Northern Zone and seven from the Southern Zone.

The top four teams from each zone progressed to the final stage, culminating in the showpiece clash between representatives from Samarahan and Bintulu.

The state government’s continued commitment to strengthening sports development, particularly in football, is seen as a catalyst for nurturing new talent and elevating Sarawak’s standing in the national football arena. -UKASnews

Prepared By: Jonnie Kiew
Photos: Sarawak Premier's Department
Translator: Uilson Ng