KUCHING – Nineteen aspiring coaches, both local and international, have successfully completed the AFC Futsal Coaching Course Level 1, held from 5 to 10 October 2025 at the Miri Indoor Stadium.
Organised by Buceros Futsal Club, with support from the Miri Division Football Association (2009), Sarawak Football Association (FAS) and Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), the intensive six-day programme drew participants from across Malaysia and abroad. Among them were six Australians, three from Brunei, and ten local coaches.
At the closing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts I, also Piasau Assemblyman, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, extended his congratulations to the organisers and graduates.
He highlighted the event’s significance, noting that it marks the first futsal coaching course in Miri and has potential to catalyse sports tourism in Sarawak.
“It was not easy to implement; it took months, but with the team’s enthusiasm and cooperation, it was successfully held in Miri,” he remarked.
He also welcomed the international contingent and encouraged their return to explore Sarawak’s unique culture and attractions.
Datuk Sebastian emphasised that sports tourism not only nurtures athletic talent but also stimulates local demand for lodging, gastronomy, and tourism services.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to developing young talent in football and futsal, hinting that Sarawak might one day host a state-level futsal league.
Among officials present were Sophiee Sharee (Deputy President, FAS), Saif Jubaidi (President, Miri Division FA), Fadillah Ibrahim (President, Buceros Futsal Club), Chiew Chun Yong (AFC Futsal Technical Expert & Elite Instructor), and Netty Elvis (Head, SSC Zone North).
The AFC’s Level 1 Coaching Course is a recognised foundation programme designed to equip coaches with the principles of futsal, including technical, tactical and pedagogical components.
By hosting such capacity-building events, Sarawak positions itself as an emerging hub for sports development and tourism synergy.