Around 450 young footballers from across Malaysia came together for the MIFA BEYOND-AIMST National U12 Inter-State Football Tournaments 2026, giving young players the opportunity to compete, learn and develop their skills at national level.
Dato Seri Sundarajoo Somu attended the tournament’s closing ceremony on 5th September 2026 at Polo Ground, Penang, where he highlighted the importance of creating more opportunities for children to experience competitive football from a young age.
Organized as part of MIIFA’s grassroots football development initiative, the tournament brought together approximately 450 players and 120 officials from across Malaysia.
Building Malaysian Football from the Grassroots
According to Dato Sundarajoo, tournaments like this are about much more than winning or losing. They give young players the chance to compete against teams from different states, gain valuable experience and improve their football abilities in a structured environment.
He stressed that if Malaysia hopes to produce stronger teams, better players, and become more competitive in football, development needs to begin at the grassroots level.
Giving children access to well-organized competitions can also help them grow beyond their abilities on the football field. Through sports, young players can learn values such as discipline, teamwork, perseverance, confidence, leadership, respect, and sportsmanship, which can also benefit them in their everyday lives.
Dato Sundarajoo congratulated all the young footballers and teams that participated in the national tournament.
He also expressed his appreciation to MIFA, MIFA BEYOND and AIMST, along with the partners, organizers, coaches, officials, volunteers and parents who helped make the tournament possible.
Their continued involvement in grassroots football, he said, creates opportunities for hundreds of children to follow their passion, develop their abilities and experience competitive football in a positive environment.
For these young players, tournaments such as the MIFA BEYOND-AIMST National U12 Inter-State Football Tournaments offer an early opportunity to experience the game at a higher level while building the skills and values that could shape the next generation of Malaysian football.
Sources: Dato Seri Sundarajoo Somu FB Post
