Behind the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 Jerseys Lie Unique Stories of Dreams, Sacrifice, and Personal Journeys

Kudus – On the field, they wear the same uniforms. They chase the ball, encourage one another, and fight to carry their team as far as possible in the MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) All Stars 2026. However, before the whistle blows and play begins, each player has already traveled a unique path.

Some persevere through grueling training, some recover from injuries, and others grow with the consistent support of parents cheering from the stands. Some families travel for hours just to watch their children play for a few minutes on the pitch.

The quarter-finals serve as a decisive phase in the tournament. Yet, for these young athletes, the journey to this point has been filled with hard work, discipline, and sacrifices often hidden from the audience's view.

This is particularly true for the Kudus All Stars. Reaching the final eight was no easy feat, as every match demonstrated that victory stems from a unity built from the start.

Defensive midfielder Sabrina Dwi Listiana acknowledged the team's difficult climb to this stage. She noted that mutual encouragement became the players' greatest asset.

“It was a tough struggle to make it to the quarter-finals. We always encouraged each other to remain optimistic. Although we previously beat Tangerang in the group stage, we cannot underestimate them. We have to keep reminding each other and work hard,” Sabrina said.

The Cristiano Ronaldo enthusiast added that behind her motivation on the field lies the prayer and support of her parents, which serves as her primary inspiration. This backing allows her to approach every match with confidence, provided the team remains disciplined and follows the coach’s guidance.

Center-back Hafiza Khairunalista shares that sentiment, viewing the quarter-final appearance as a source of pride and a significant responsibility.

“I am very happy to have come this far. My biggest motivation is the support from my parents, who are always cheering me on,” she said.

Like in previous matches, Hafiza maintains her usual preparation routine: warming up, focusing, and stepping onto the field with the belief that every opponent deserves respect.

“We are optimistic but remain vigilant because our opponents are also high-quality,” she said.

Behind the players' readiness, the coaching staff maintains a consistent process. Kudus All Stars coach Yayat Hidayat chose not to change much ahead of the crucial match, believing that the style of play that brought the team this far must be preserved.

"The players are quite ready. I constantly remind them to keep working hard and stay disciplined. There are no special instructions, just play as usual," he explained.

This discipline extends beyond training. Yayat also enforces a strict rest schedule for all players to ensure their physical condition remains optimal.

"Every night at 9:00 p.m., we collect all mobile phones so they can get proper rest. We also monitor their diet and physical health. There's no specific goal target; what matters is that if an opportunity arises, they must maximize it," Yayat explained.

Meanwhile, for the Tangerang All Stars, the journey to the knockout stage has offered a different lesson. Their group-stage loss to Kudus has served as a catalyst to rebuild their confidence.

Coach Leonardo Sedubun said his team enters with renewed belief, noting that knockout matches present equal opportunities for every side.

"Yesterday's defeat became our motivation. This is the knockout round, so we will give 100 percent. The most important thing is for the players to believe in themselves, stay focused, and maintain their health. We intend to cause an upset," he said.

This optimism is shared by player Angelina Saeralita Mongan. She attributes the team's spirit to bonds cultivated daily—from group prayers and warm-ups to mutual encouragement before matches.

"Our inspiration comes from our coach and teammates. Before matches, we always pray, warm up, and cheer each other on. We are confident heading into this game," she said.

However, the struggle at the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars is not confined to the pitch. Behind every player, there is a family supporting them throughout the journey.

In the stands, Annas rarely took his eyes off the field. Every time his daughter, Kudus All Stars goalkeeper Queisha Sava, touched the ball, he could be heard cheering her on.

For Annas, seeing his daughter don the All Stars uniform is the culmination of a long process shared by their family.

“My daughter's journey has been supported in many ways, both financially and emotionally. I am always present when she plays to cheer her on from the stands. Off the field, I always remind her to keep learning and evolving,” he said.

Queisha began participating in the MilkLife Soccer Challenge in the fourth grade. Now, the opportunity to perform with the All Stars squad is a source of pride for her family.

“I obviously hope she wins. If the results are different, that's just the nature of competition, where there are wins and losses. But I remain optimistic,” he added.

Another story comes from Melpi Aprianti, the mother of Bekasi All Stars midfielder Kamelia Putri Aryanti. To support her daughter in Kudus, she undertook a grueling nine-hour solo road trip from Bekasi.

For her, supporting her child means not just being there for the victories, but accompanying her through every step of the journey.

“Everything is for my child. We sacrifice our time and energy. As parents, we are obviously concerned about injury, especially since she is a girl. But when we see how much she loves playing soccer, we are fully committed to supporting her,” she said.

Although the Bekasi All Stars' run ended in the group stage, Melpi said she remains proud of her daughter's progress. The experience gained during the tournament serves as a valuable asset for her future development.

Another display of determination came from Surabaya All Stars midfielder Annisa Nur. Leading up to the match, she suffered a foot injury during training after being stepped on by a teammate. While it sparked initial concern, it dissipated as she regained full fitness.

“I suffered an injury during training when my foot was stepped on by a teammate, but I have fully recovered. My preparation has focused on maintaining a healthy diet, getting to sleep earlier, and ensuring all my equipment is ready ahead of the match,” said the Surabaya-born athlete.

Surabaya All Stars coach Sai Dong stated that the greatest challenge heading into the knockout stage is not only maintaining player fitness but also restoring morale following the team's defeat in the group phase.

“We have analyzed our opponent's strengths and weaknesses, but we will remain committed to our own style of play,” he said.

He added that since some players have yet to reach full fitness, the coaching staff has prepared backup options.

“The most important thing is for the players' mental state to recover because today’s match is different. If we lose, our run is over. We have come with the goal of winning; we are not preparing ourselves for defeat,” he emphasized.

Ultimately, the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars serve as more than a competition between the best teams from various regions. The tournament highlights how a young athlete's aspirations are built through rigorous training, sustained discipline, guidance from coaches, mutual support among teammates, and the presence of family and supporters at every step. Beyond the identical uniforms lie unique individual journeys, yet all converge on a shared objective: continued growth through football. (JMY/ITN/mainkekudus)