KUCHING: SJN Academy emerged champions of the 2026 PETRONAS Youth Football Closed Tournament (PYFCT) Under-12 category after defeating Nexus Academy 2-1 in the final at the KDFA Football Synthetic Field on Saturday (Oct 31).

Nexus Academy settled for second place, while BKJ Academy finished third in the competition, which featured 16 teams from across the region.

Apart from the team honours, several players and teams were also recognised for their performances throughout the tournament.

Nexus Academy received the Fair Play Award, while Adam Danial Laili of Nexus Academy was named Top Scorer.

SJN Academy also took home two individual accolades, with Aazim Aliff Safuan named Best Goalkeeper and Muhammad Farish Qazim Johadi receiving the Best Player award.

The prize-giving and closing ceremony was attended by Acting Head of the Sports Development Division of Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) Dedia Sarini Ahmad, representing the corporation’s chief executive officer, PETRONAS Sarawak’s General Manager Norazibah M Rabu, and Lea Sport Centre’s representative Melati Melabeh.

The Kuching leg of the Under-12 competition began on July 25, with teams progressing through the group stage before reaching the knockout rounds and the final.

The tournament is part of PETRONAS’ commitment to youth development and community building, complementing the government’s ongoing efforts to nurture the younger generation through sports.

Through its corporate programme and collaboration with strategic partners, PETRONAS gives a platform that creates meaningful opportunities to Sarawak’s youth while complementing the broader government-led youth development agenda.