Piala Cahya Mata Gives New Shine to Malaysian Football Development

KUALA LUMPUR: Piala Cahya Mata is set for a major expansion this year with its grassroots football tournament going nationwide and offering more than RM700,000 in prize money.

Following the success of the inaugural edition in Kuching last year, the community-based competition will now be held across Malaysia from July to November.

Cahya Mata Group managing director Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib said the tournament was designed to unite communities while steering youths towards a healthier lifestyle.

"Piala Cahya Mata 2026 is about more than football. We believe sport is one of the most powerful tools to steer young Malaysians towards a healthy, drug-free life.

"Through this tournament, we hope to bring communities together while creating more opportunities for local talent to compete and grow," he said.

The tournament will feature a league format conducted simultaneously in every state before state champions advance into the knockout rounds and eventually the Grand Finals in Kuching.

Open to Malaysian male citizens aged between 16 and 35, the competition aims to provide a competitive platform for non-professional grassroots footballers nationwide.

Teams will also be allowed to register up to five players above the age of 35 as part of efforts to encourage mentorship and experience-sharing between generations.

The national champions will walk away with RM100,000 while winners at state level will each receive RM20,000.

The organisers said there will be no registration fees to encourage wider participation nationwide.

The tournament is expected to involve around 11,200 players and team officials across the country.

Sulaiman said the overwhelming community response during last year's tournament in Kuching inspired the organisers to expand the competition nationwide.

"I saw the community engaging and the players really trying hard. It inspired me to make it nationwide because seeing the players and their families was something special," he said.

He added that strict anti-drug measures would be enforced throughout the competition.

"If anyone is tested and found to have drugs, the team will be dismissed. The players have a responsibility and the team has to look after each other," he said.

Sulaiman also hopes the tournament can help strengthen unity among Malaysians through football and community engagement.

"We want togetherness. We want to contribute to society and make sure the games have an effect on people," he said.

Source: New Straits Times