Women's Footballer's Target Is Potentially Expanded

MilkLife Soccer Challenge (VOI/Cosmas Kopong Beda) press conference.

JAKARTA The Djarum Foundation Sports Service together with the MilkLife expanded their target to hunt down early-age female footballers through the MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) 2025 and 2026.

Malang and Bekasi are two additional cities that have completed eight cities for the MLSC since last year. The series of women's soccer tournaments for the age group (KU) 8, KU-10, and KU-12 will begin in Kudus on July 29, August 3, 2025.

The Director of MilkLife Soccer Challenge, Teddy Tjahjono, said that the 2025 MilkLife Challenge is expected to spark more interest from elementary school (SD) students and the ibtidaiyah madrasah (MI).

"The competition must be held regularly and regularly so that prospective athletes or who have become football athletes know that there is a forum that is consistently held," said Teddy.

Currently, the MilkLife Soccer Kudus Series 1 2025 is also rolling. This tournament was attended by 1,370 participants from 92 elementary schools and MI from Kudus and its surroundings.

Teddy said that expanding the coverage of the MilkLife Soccer region was one of the efforts to capture more potential women's soccer seeds in a city that has a long history in football.

"Malang and Bekasi are cities that have a history of football and are indeed large populations. From the results of our survey, the two cities have a fairly high interest in women's soccer," he said.

Bekasi is closely related to two teams, namely Persikasi Bekasi and FC Bekasi City (previously known as Persipasi Bekasi).

Persikasi Bekasi, standing in 1961, is a team representing Bekasi Regency. Meanwhile, FC Bekasi City, a team based in Bekasi City, is currently competing in League 2 (Championship).

Football in Malang has a long history that began during the Dutch colonial period. The oldest football club in Malang, namely MVB (Malangsche Voetbal Bond) was founded in 1928, previously known as the Voetbalbond Malang en Omstreken (VMO) in 1926-1933.

Then PSIM (Persatoean Football Indonesia Malang) became an important part of the development of football in Apple City which was formed in 1953. PSIM or Persema, which was born from a combination of Malang football clubs, is also an important part in the history of football in this city.

In addition to the addition of two new cities, another difference in the MilkLife Soccer Challenge 2025-2026 is the field dimension of KU-12 which was previously 24 x 40 meters to 26 x 42 meters. While KU-10 still uses the previous field size.

The penalty spot becomes 10 meters from the goal, kick-off starts with two touches. For the semifinal, final, and or top eight matches, the KU-10 uses the KU-12 field.

The regulation used in MLSC is a special match regulation that is adjusted to the PSSI General Regulation for early childhood development.

Didiet Fadriana Abdulkadir, Business Unit Head (Dairy) Savoria as a milk producer for MilkLife said that his party's commitment was to support this tournament again because of the increasing enthusiasm of participants.

"Moreover, some of them have experienced playing in international tournaments. Some are currently participating in the selection of the U-16 Indonesian Women's National Team."

"This means that what we have been doing so far has been going according to our vision," said Didiet.

PSSI Executive Committee (Exco) member, Vivin Cahyani, welcomed the milkLife Soccer Challenge which was held regularly and sustainably. He considered that this tournament became the forerunner of the birth of professional female soccer players who would compete in tournaments at a higher level in stages.

"I am very grateful because PSSI's task in coaching from grassroots to professionals is helped by the existence of a MilkLife Soccer Challenge."

"On behalf of PSSI, I thank you for the last two years of coaching early childhood women's football until seniors went smoothly," said Vivin.

Meanwhile, Clea Abelia, an athlete who graduated from Jakarta's MilkLife Soccer Challenge, stated that this tournament played a major role in her career as a footballer.

"MilkLife Soccer Challenge has taught me a lot of valuable lessons and experiences. From this tournament, I love and love football more," said Abel.

Throughout participating in the MilkLife Soccer Challenge, Clea Abelia reaped a number of achievements, including Top Scorer of the 2024 MLSC Jakarta Series 1 for KU-12 by scoring 17 goals and Top Scorer (27 goals) and Best Player of the 2025 MLSC Jakarta.

In the 2024 MLSC Series 2, he also managed to score 17 goals. He also brought his team SDN Kalisari 01 to win the 2025 MLSC Jakarta and MLSC Jakarta runners-up Series 2 2024.

Not only the 7 vs 7, MilkLife Soccer Challenge 2025 2026 will continue to hold the Seneng Soccer Festival for KU-8 which aims to foster joy and like the game of football by targeting an earlier age of (68 years).

In addition, there is still a Skill Challenge which includes five missingness tests ranging from 1 on 1, penalty shoot, drabling, passing control, and shooting on target.

Just like the previous year's event, the estuary after holding two series in 10 cities will roll out the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars, which brings together the best talents curated throughout the tournament.

MilkLife Soccer Challenge Series 1 20252026 Schedule