WOMEN’S SOCCER – In order to find superior seeds for female soccer athletes, Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation together with MilkLife held the “MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) – Yogyakarta Series 1 2024” at Tridadi Stadium, Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta.
The tournament, which was held from July 25 to July 28, 2024, involved hundreds of female students from Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) and Elementary Schools (SD) who came from Yogyakarta, Sleman to Bantul.
Head Coach Timo Scheunemann explained that MLSC 2024 was held in 8 major cities throughout Indonesia, after last year it was only held in Kudus. This competition not only competes in 7 vs 7 competitions, MilkLife Soccer Challenge – Yogyakarta Series 1 2024 also tests the agility of female students through Skill Challenges in the form of dribbling, passing & control, 1on1, shooting on target to penalty shoots.
“Next year we are targeting to hold it in 10 major cities in Indonesia. „ said Timo to a number of journalists in Yogyakarta, Saturday (7/27/2024).
Timo further said that the main vision of this competition is to find talented athletes in the women’s soccer sport. Therefore, this competition starts from elementary and junior high school age, because most Soccer Schools do not have female athletes.
Searching for soccer athletes through schools is nothing new. Because a number of other countries such as Japan and China have also done this before. Later, after a number of Soccer Schools in Indonesia have prospective female Soccer athletes, a competition between Soccer Schools can be held. Therefore, one of the objectives of holding this competition is to create an atmosphere to foster female athletes among Football Schools in Indonesia.
Timo emphasized that the recruitment of prospective female football athletes is still a very difficult job. One of the challenges that needs to be faced is the public’s view that football is a sport for men. For this reason, for the success of this competition, the organizers must take an intensive approach not only to the schools but also to the parents and guardians of students.
In addition, considering that there are still many sports teachers who do not understand the rules of this sport, the organizers also need to provide training for sports teachers in a number of Elementary Schools so that they can train students in their respective schools.
Head Coach Timo Scheunemann
Meanwhile, the Program Director of the Bhakti Jarum Foundation, Yopi Rusimin, added that after the implementation of Serie 1, this competition will be continued with Serie 2 which will be held in December 2024.
“For Serie 1, the enthusiasm of the participants is quite good. Approximately 400 athletes from various schools participated in this competition, including participants from Kebumen, Central Java, “said Yopi.
Yopi emphasized that the main purpose of this competition is to market female soccer athletes for the Yogyakarta area and its surroundings, in the 10-12 year age category.
After the best players are gathered and formed into an “All Star” club to be coached and given extra training in the city of Kudus. The results of the selection of the best players will later become members of the National Team whose coaching is handed over to the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI). (*/)
