Surabaya – Airlangga Fisheries Competition (AFISHCO) 2026 is an annual event organized by the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine (FPK), Universitas Airlangga, under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. As competition continues to intensify in today’s rapidly evolving world, fostering students’ talents and interests beyond academic achievement has become increasingly important in developing well-rounded, high-achieving, and socially responsible young individuals. Many senior high school and vocational high school students possess remarkable athletic potential but often lack opportunities to refine their skills through structured competitions. Recognizing this need, AFISHCO 2026 provides a competitive platform where students can demonstrate their abilities while cultivating teamwork, leadership, discipline, and sportsmanship. Through futsal, one of the most popular sports among Indonesian youth, the competition encourages participants to strengthen both their individual capabilities and collaborative spirit, reflecting Universitas Airlangga’s commitment to supporting holistic student development and meaningful engagement with the wider community.
Airlangga Fisheries Competition (AFISHCO) 2026 serves as one of the flagship programs organized by the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Universitas Airlangga, to promote non-academic excellence through sports, particularly futsal, among senior high school and vocational high school students. The competition welcomed eight futsal teams representing schools from Surabaya and its surrounding areas, with all qualifying matches taking place at the Pertamina Futsal Arena, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), on Saturday, 20 June 2026, and Sunday, 21 June 2026. The event commenced with an energetic opening ceremony attended by participants, committee members, invited guests, and university representatives. The ceremony featured welcoming remarks from the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, Muhammad Hilmi Agus Saputra, followed by speeches from the Person in Charge (PIC) and the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Student Executive Board. The official opening concluded with an address by the Vice President of the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Ahmad Fadhil Dhamarmanah, who warmly welcomed all participating teams while emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork, mutual respect, and enthusiasm throughout the tournament.
The official launch of AFISHCO 2026 was symbolized by the ceremonial first kick performed by Ahmad Fadhil Dhamarmanah, marking the beginning of the futsal competition. This symbolic moment reflected the core values promoted throughout the tournament, including fairness, unity, integrity, and healthy competition. The first day of competition adopted a group-stage format, with the eight participating teams divided equally into Group A and Group B. A total of six qualifying matches were held to determine which teams would advance to the semifinal round. Throughout the day, spectators witnessed highly competitive and entertaining performances from every team. One of the closely contested matches featured SMA IPIEMS against SMA Negeri 1 Waru, with SMA Negeri 1 Waru securing a narrow 1–0 victory. Another exciting match between SMK Negeri 2 Surabaya and SMA Negeri 1 Waru concluded in a balanced 1–1 draw, highlighting the evenly matched quality of the participating teams. Every match demonstrated the students’ technical abilities, tactical understanding, determination, and commitment to fair play, creating an inspiring atmosphere for both participants and supporters.
Beyond serving as a sports competition, AFISHCO 2026 was designed to encourage the development of students’ interests and talents outside the classroom while strengthening character education through athletic participation. By providing opportunities to compete in an organized tournament, participants were able to evaluate and improve their technical skills, teamwork, strategic thinking, communication, and mental resilience under competitive conditions. The competition also functioned as an important outreach initiative, introducing the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Universitas Airlangga, to prospective students and the broader community. Through a professionally organized event that combined competitive sports with educational values, AFISHCO showcased the faculty’s commitment to nurturing future generations who excel not only academically but also personally and socially. Furthermore, the event strengthened relationships between Universitas Airlangga and participating schools, fostering greater collaboration while inspiring students to explore future educational opportunities in fisheries and marine sciences.
Airlangga Fisheries Competition (AFISHCO) 2026 was successfully conducted as a platform for developing the athletic potential of senior high school and vocational high school students through futsal. The entire competition, from the qualifying rounds to the grand final, was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the organizing committee, participating schools, sponsors, media partners, volunteers, and numerous supporting stakeholders. Beyond gaining valuable match experience, participants strengthened essential life skills such as discipline, responsibility, teamwork, leadership, resilience, and respect for others. At the same time, AFISHCO 2026 effectively introduced the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Universitas Airlangga, to a wider audience, particularly prospective students interested in pursuing higher education. The organizers hope that Airlangga Fisheries Competition will continue to be held annually with continuous innovation and improvement, enabling it to become a leading inter-school futsal tournament that nurtures talented young athletes while strengthening partnerships between Universitas Airlangga and the wider community. The successful implementation of AFISHCO 2026 also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by demonstrating the importance of collaboration among universities, schools, student organizations, sponsors, media partners, and community stakeholders in creating meaningful educational and youth development initiatives that generate long-term positive impacts.
Penulis : Theodore Ariel Nugroho
Editor : TPA
