Intense Competition in Kudus Women's Division Produces a New Champion

A high-tension competitive spirit enveloped the Supersoccer Arena, Rendeng, Kudus, Central Java during the climax of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge Kudus Series 2 2025 - 2026 championship on Sunday (5/24). Able to perform consistently and tenaciously throughout the tournament, the SDN Jambean 02 Pati team successfully made history by winning their first championship title after defeating SDUT Bumi Kartini Jepara in a dramatic penalty shootout with a score of 1-1 (6-5). The competition in the KU 10 sector was also intense, ultimately won by MI NU Baitul Mukminin after defeating MI NU Pendidikan Islam with a score of 4-1.

The organization of MLSC Kudus Series 2 2025–2026 shows the positive momentum of the growing and developing women's football ecosystem. In this series, 1,391 female students from 89 Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) and Sekolah Dasar (SD) from Kudus, Demak, Pati, Rembang, and Jepara participated, showcasing their best abilities in the tournament initiated by the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation and MilkLife. Since it was first held in 2023, Kudus has become the initial city for sustainable early childhood girls' football development and has produced many potential talents to be prepared for the future revival of Indonesian women's football.

Head Coach Timo Scheunemann at the MilkLife Soccer Challenge Kudus Series 2 2025–2026, believes that the development process for young players cannot rely solely on technical skills on the field. According to him, consistency in training and a love for football are important factors in the development of young female athletes. Timo said that the development of women's football needs to be built gradually so that the female students can grow, both in terms of playing ability and personal character.

"Achievements are indeed important, but equally important is the consistency of the students in training." When their skills improve, they will enjoy playing football even more. From there, their potential and talent can be explored. Then, schools can also incorporate values of mental and character development that align with the world of education," said Timo.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office (Kemenag) of Kudus Regency, H. Shony Wardana appreciated the implementation of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge girls' football tournament, which encourages students at the MI/SD level to engage in sports and achieve success. "We from the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office of Kudus Regency would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation for giving our students from Madrasah Ibtidaiyah the opportunity to participate in this tournament." Hopefully, they can continue to develop their potential and talent in the field of women's football. We also encourage MI and MTS in Kudus Regency to excel both academically and non-academically," said Shony.

Representative of the Djarum Foundation Sports Charity, Satia Chandra Wiguna, stated that the organization of the MLSC Kudus Series 2 2025 - 2026 is proof of the consistency in strengthening the foundation of increasingly competitive women's football at the grassroots level. This is part of the effort to maintain the continuity and chain of regeneration for future female football players from Kudus City, Indonesia.

"We would like to thank the Kudus Regency Government, especially the Kudus Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office, as well as the Kudus Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs for their support all this time." We are proud that the participants of MLSC Kudus Series 2 2025 - 2026 have a high and competitive fighting spirit. This is proven by the emergence of new champions as a result of the participants' serious training in the world of football. "Hopefully, in the future, many female athletes from Kudus will emerge to bring pride to Indonesia on the world stage," said Chandra.

Competition for the Highest Podium Full of Tension

The KU 12 final match was a rematch of the previous series, once again pitting SDN Jambean 02 Pati against the last series champion, SDUT Bumi Kartini Jepara. Since the kick-off of the first half began, the tension of the match immediately heated up and both teams played fiercely. Physical duels and battles for the ball frequently occurred, forcing both teams to play patiently to break down the opponent's defense and create opportunities. The deadlock was finally broken in the 12th minute by Rere Zenita Farza, who successfully broke free from the opponent's defense and unleashed a left-footed shot to the right side of the goal, giving SDUT Bumi Kartini Jepara a temporary lead of 1-0 until the first half ended.

After the halftime break, the battle for ball possession resumed fiercely. Both teams pressed each other to find gaps in the opponent's defense. SDN Jambean 02 Pati, commanded by Faiha Talloi Carena, refused to give up and had a golden opportunity thru a free kick executed by Hafiza Khaira Lubna Lista. However, the shot was still blocked by the SDUT Bumi Kartini Jepara defense line, causing the loose ball to roll out of the field.

The persistence of SDN Jambean 02 Pati in catching up deserves appreciation. Dara Clarista Putri Valencia confidently unleashed a powerful direct shot that the opposing goalkeeper failed to anticipate. That goal changed the score to 1-1. The match became even more intense, with both teams managing to hold the score until the final whistle was blown. The result forced the match to continue to a penalty shootout to determine the champion of the KU 12 MilkLife Soccer Challenge Kudus Series 2 2025 - 2026.

The penalty shootout drama was tense until the sixth kicker. SDN Jambean 02 Pati finally emerged as the champion after the last Srikandi, Preiska Naurah Zaparani, secured the first victory for SDN Jambean 02 Pati and clinched the KU 12 championship title.

This marks the first victory in history for SDN Jambean 02 Pati, as well as an epic comeback moment in the MilkLife Soccer Challenge, which has been participated in six times. The coach of SDN Jambean 02 Pati, Muhammad Hidayat, praised his team for being able to play all out throughout the final match. "The match was very exciting thanks to the team playing with high motivation." "Our team did not underestimate the opponent but worked hard throughout the final match," said Coach Hidayat.

This sweet victory is the fruit of the struggle of the heroines of SDN Jambean 02 Pati, who have made maximum efforts to perform impressively throughout the MLSC Kudus Series 2 2025 - 2026. "I never expected to win the KU 12 championship. The match was exciting and tense, especially when it went to penalties, it was very nerve-wracking." "But in the end, our hard work paid off by becoming champions. Thank you for the effort, friends," said Faiha, the team captain.

Intense competition was also on display in the KU 10 final match, which pitted two new finalists against each other, MI NU Baitul Mukminin versus MI NU Pendidikan Islam. Since the referee blew the kick-off whistle, the ball contest was intense. MI NU Pendidikan Islam, who gained possession of the ball first, immediately came under pressure from the MI NU Baitul Mukminin squad, who quickly built an attack toward the opponent's defense. The effort bore fruit in the third minute when Nadya Alyssa Azzahra successfully opened the scoring after taking advantage of the chaos in front of the goal. Her precise shot was not stopped by the MI NU Pendidikan Islam goalkeeper, giving MI NU Baitul Mukminin a 1-0 lead.

The lead was extended again in the eighth minute thru a brilliant action by Khansa Marsa Irsyad. Khansa capitalized on the opportunity and changed the score to 2-0. MI NU Baitul Mukminin extended their lead again after being awarded a free kick outside the penalty box. Izzatunnisyafa Zahida Azzahra's execution bounced before deceiving goalkeeper Mahreen Aftina Shafana and giving her team a 3-0 lead. However, MI NU Pendidikan Islam did not give up. Two minutes later, Nadhira Adiba Syakila successfully reduced the deficit and changed the score to 3-1 at the end of the first half.

Entering the second half, MI NU Baitul Mukminin played even more competitively and secured the victory with a goal from Arla Manda Guina in the 25th minute. The score of 4-1 held until the final whistle, and MI NU Baitul Mukminin emerged as the new champions of the KU 10 MilkLife Soccer Challenge Kudus Series 2 2025 - 2026.

The coach of MI NU Baitul Mukminin, Ahmad Rizza Aftoni, appreciated this sweet first victory considering that his team faced tough opponents during the MLSC Kudus Series 2 2025-2026. "This victory is a surprise because it was unexpected." Our target was only the semifinals because in the last series we failed in the quarter-finals. Alhamdulillah, thanks to the perseverance and fighting spirit of the students, as well as the support of the parents. We were able to bring home the championship trophy," concluded Coach Ahmad.

List of Winners of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge Kudus Series 2 2025 - 2026:

Age Category 10

Champion: MI NU Baitul Mukminin

Runner-up: MI NU Islamic Education

Semifinalists: SDN Gunungwungkal 01 and SD 2 Demaan

Top Scorer : Charissa Setya Ayudiana - SDIT Al Islam Kudus (37 goals)

                   Nadhira Adiba Syakila - MI NU Islamic Education (37 goals)

Best Player: Khusna Marsa Irsyad - MI NU Baitul Mukminin

Best Goalkeeper: Aulia Agustin - SDN Gunungwungkal 01

Fairplay Team : MIM Al Tanbih Kudus

Category Age 12

Juara : SDN Jambean 02 Pati

Subcampeón : SDUT Bumi Kartini Jepara

Semifinalists: SDN 1 Rendeng and SDIT Al Islam Kudus

Top Scorer: Rara Zenita Fatin - SDUT Bumi Kartini Jepara (42 goals)

Best Player: Sabrina Dwi Ristiyana - SDN Jambean 02 Pati

Best Goalkeeper: Queisha Savaa Azzalfa - SDUT Bumi Kartini Jepara

Fairplay Team : SDN 1 Panggang Jepara

Visit www.milklifesoccer.com to see the schedule, match results, standings, and the list of goal scorers for the MilkLife Soccer Challenge. And follow the MilkLife Soccer Challenge social media accounts (Instagram @milklifesoccer, TikTok @milklifesoccer, YouTube @milklifesoccer) to get interesting information about the development of women's soccer.