Mohamad Fuad Mohamad Sapri
Teams from throughout state to battle for title
KUCHING: The game of futsal has seen a rapid growth in popularity and the sport is to kick-off in a big way with Kuching Division Football Association (KDFA) hosting the Sarawak Futsal Cup from May 11 to 13.
“Futsal is fast gaining popularity throughout the state and the successful implementation of upcoming tournaments and coaching programmes will further boost its growth in Sarawak.
“As a curtain raiser, club sides from all divisions in the state will compete for top honours and cash prizes in the Sarawak Futsal Cup hosted by KDJA,” informed Mohamad Fuad Mohamad Sapri, Secretary of Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Committee of Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) to The Borneo Post yesterday.
The tournament was successfully held in Miri last year with Kuching North City Council (DBKU) futsal team emerging as champion in the men’s category while the MYBankers team from Betong took the women’s crown.
Both teams went on to represent the state in the ongoing FELDA-FAM national futsal league with some measure of success.
There’s an overall improvement in the level of performance by all teams participating in last year’s tournament which strongly points the way that the level of futsal is steadily going up in Sarawak.
The futsal championship will be the biggest yet with all divisions in the state sending teams to participate. This is attributed to the increasing popularity of the sport.
“This year we retain the same tournament format with a maximum of 12 teams in the men’s category and up to a maximum of 6 teams for the women’s event.
“For the 2012 edition, KDFA will act as host for the tournament under the supervision of Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Committee of FAS,” said Fuad.
The sport can only get better in the state as there is a comprehensive plan to promote and develop futsal coupled with the organising of domestic leagues.