KUDUS – The final whistle at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus on Sunday (July 12, 2026) marked the conclusion of the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026. Over the course of the week, the tournament brought together 16 girls' U-15 and U-18 youth football teams from across the country for a national-level competition.
While some teams ended the tournament hoisting championship trophies, others walked away with results that fell short of their expectations. Nevertheless, all participants gained invaluable experience. They learned to perform under the pressure of competition, adapt to different playing styles, and put their training to the test.
The final round featured two highly competitive matches. In the U-15 category, Goal Aksis faced Cipta Cendekia FA Bogor, while in the U-18 bracket, Akademi Persib Bandung squared off against Putri Garut for the title.
Stadium stands were filled with families, coaches, and supporters cheering throughout the matches. The air was thick with emotion, filled with applause, cheers, and tears as the final matches concluded.
For the players, the final was more than just the last match in Kudus. It served as the culmination of a journey that began at the regional level, requiring them to constantly adapt to diverse opponents throughout the tournament.
For Goal Aksis U-15 player Bilqis Fatimah Az Zahra, the trophy serves as a testament to the collective effort of her entire team.
“We are definitely overjoyed because the Goal Aksis team shared the same goal of traveling from Bandung to Kudus to turn silver into gold,” she said.
This ambition was fueled by rigorous preparation. Bilqis explained that the team underwent intensive training for about a month, with daily morning and evening sessions to prepare for the national stage.
“This trophy represents our hard work over the past full month. We trained every single day, morning and evening,” she said.
To her, the trophy is more than a symbol of victory; it is a reminder of the difficult journey shared with her teammates. That experience has strengthened her resolve to keep improving as a footballer.
“Whenever I look at this trophy, I will remember the process, because it was quite grueling. My personal goal is to play for the Indonesian national team,” she said.
Meanwhile, Putri Garut U-18 (Garut) had to settle for a runner-up finish in the tournament. Despite falling short of the title, their journey to the final remains a valuable experience for the team.
For Putri Garut U-18 (Garut) player Nazwa Bilbina, missing out on the championship was understandably disappointing. However, she views the result as a necessary part of an athlete's development.
"Of course, it’s a bit sad not to win the title, but personally, being able to perform here has shown the team's improvement. After finishing in Kudus, we will keep training. Every match has its wins and losses, and that is all part of the process," Nazwa said.
According to Nazwa, reaching the final reflects the progress her team made during the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026. Facing top teams from various regions provided valuable experience that complemented their ongoing training.
Instead of dwelling on disappointment, Nazwa and her teammates are using the result as motivation to continue training. To her, the journey in Kudus is not the end, but rather part of the process to build skills and return to competition better prepared.
Nazwa holds a simple philosophy: in soccer, there will always be wins and losses. Both are part of the journey that shapes an athlete's character and enhances their experience.
Goal Aksis’s championship win was a source of pride for coach Budi Sufarlan. However, he emphasized that the tournament offers broader benefits beyond the final results.
During his time in Kudus, Budi noted he gained significant insights from other participating teams, which brought distinct playing styles and training approaches to the event.
“The most memorable aspect was learning how other teams manage their squads and observing the unique characteristics of players from different regions. I was also impressed by the camaraderie built among the teams over the past week,” he explained.
He believes this diversity in playing styles provided a valuable experience for his players, forcing them to adapt in every match.
“For the athletes, it is a lesson in how to respond to their opponents' individual and team characteristics. They learned from facing different teams throughout the group stage, which provided real-world experience on the pitch,” he said.
Although his team took home the trophy, Budi urged his players to remain focused on their development. He hopes this achievement in Kudus serves as a stepping stone for future goals rather than a reason to feel they have reached their peak.
“My advice to the athletes is not to be arrogant about what we achieved today or to grow complacent. I want them to exceed today's performance in their next targets. If you stop learning, you risk being overtaken by others,” he advised.
These remarks highlight that the development process does not end when a competition concludes; rather, the next challenge is maintaining consistency in training.
Yoppy Rosimin, Program Director for Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation, views the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 as a key part of the ongoing, phased development of women's football.
the organization of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge in 2023.
“Looking at the progress of our women's football, if we look back to the 2023 MilkLife Soccer Challenge, that was just the beginning. The growth of this tournament has been much faster than we anticipated. The foundation for events like the HYDROPLUS Soccer League is now quite strong,” he said.
He hopes this foundation will continue to grow by expanding the reach of competitions, thereby providing more opportunities for young athletes to gain match experience.
“This means that moving forward, it should be even more vibrant, and hopefully, achievements will follow, both internationally and through the development of the HYDROPLUS Soccer League and MilkLife Soccer Challenge. Everything will continue to improve, and naturally, we should expand to more cities. The commitment of the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation is clear; while 2023 was a struggle, things are improving now,” he explained.
The conclusion of the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 did more than just crown champions. The tournament brought together young athletes from various regions into a single competitive arena, where they learned from one another, exchanged experiences, and encountered diverse playing styles.
Throughout the tournament, all participants were directly monitored by a scouting team consisting of Timo Scheunemann, Jacksen F. Tiago, and Takumi Taniguchi. The results of this monitoring will be part of the selection process for players with the potential to strengthen two Indonesian U-16 teams for the Srikandi Merdeka Cup, which will be held from August 14–23, 2026, at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus. This opportunity also opens doors for athletes to advance to higher levels of development.
For some participants, the tournament concluded with gold medals. For others, the match results served as an evaluation tool to prepare for future opportunities. However, all teams left Kudus with equally valuable experiences, ranging from handling match-day pressure and building teamwork to forging friendships with athletes from different regions.
As the stadium lights dimmed and each contingent returned to their respective cities, their football journey was far from over. The experiences gained over the week provide a foundation to continue their development at their local training centers, while preparing them for the challenges ahead.
Through the ongoing development commitment of the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation, the HYDROPLUS Soccer League is expected to remain a competitive arena for young female footballers. Each event is not merely about determining the best team, but also serves as a platform for athletes to refine their skills, gain match experience, and unlock opportunities for higher-level training.
(ITN/FZ/mainkekudus)