The Early Football Boom in Bekasi is Growing

Implementation of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) Bekasi Series II 2025-2026. (MilkLife doc)

JAKARTA - The boom in early childhood girls' football in the city of Bekasi has experienced growth. This statistic can be seen in the implementation of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) Bekasi Series II 2025-2026 football event which took place this week.

MLSC Bekasi Series II was held at the Bekasi International Soccer Field and Lap. Yonif 202 Tajimalela on April 28-May 3, 2026. The number of students and also the number of schools that took part in the event initiated by the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation and MilkLife increased. Deputy Program Manager of the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation, Welly Arisanto, assessed that the increase in participant enthusiasm was a positive indicator that the coaching program being run was starting to show a real impact at the early age level. "This is only the second series, but the enthusiasm is already encouraging so it is a positive signal for the coaching efforts that are being carried out," he said in a statement received. The participants of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) Bekasi Series II 2025-2026 reached 1,164 students, who came from 76 Elementary Schools (SD) and Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI). Previously in Series I in September, this event was attended by 1,036 participants from 67 Elementary Schools (SD) and Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI). The increase made the number of teams also increase, from 92 teams in the implementation of Series I to 105 teams in Series II. The teams consisted of 31 teams of 10-year-old age groups (KU) and 74 teams of 12-year-old age groups (KU).

"Overall, the talents who appeared throughout the second series showed a fairly good development. The quality of the players who participated this time also looks more prominent than the previous edition," said Joni. The title of the 10-year KU champion in the second series of Bekasi was brought home by SDN Jatiwaringin 2. They managed to come out as champions after defeating SDN Karang Anyar 03 Pagi through a penalty shootout drama. Meanwhile, SDN Sukaresmi 06 became the champion of the 12-year KU after defeating SDN Padurenan IV in the final round. This victory was also a revenge for SDN Sukaresmi over SDN Padurenan IV who defeated them in the final of the first series.