KUDUS — The final whistle marked the conclusion of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) All Stars 2026 semifinal at the Supersoccer Arena (SSA), Kudus, on Saturday (6/27/2026). Several players sat on the field, some consoling one another, while others struggled to contain their disappointment. Among them was Jesshica, a student at SDK Santa Maria Goretti Balikpapan who was recruited to bolster the Surabaya All Stars as a guest star.
A day earlier, her decisive goal had propelled the Surabaya All Stars into the semifinals. However, the team's campaign ended following a loss to the Kudus All Stars. Jesshica could not hide her tears as the reality of their exit from the tournament set in.
The 2-1 defeat to the host team, Kudus All Stars, ended their dreams of reaching the final. Yet, for the 12-year-old from Balikpapan, her tournament journey offered lessons far more valuable than a victory.
“I’m quite sad because we lost. But the biggest lesson from this match is that we need to be more spirited, tighter as a unit, and improve our communication. Throughout this tournament, we maintained good cohesion and mentality,” said the young player, who counts Neymar Jr as her idol.
Jesshica’s perspective on the loss reflects her approach to daily life. To her, every experience provides an opportunity to learn—a principle she applies not only on the pitch but also when facing academic challenges.
On the pitch, Jesshica is known as an agile striker who plays with decisiveness and constant pressure on the opposition. Off the field, however, the student of SDK Santa Maria Goretti Balikpapan—who competes for the Surabaya All Stars—navigates a different world that holds equal importance in her life.
She is a Mathematics Olympiad medalist and remains actively involved in various national-level competitions.
While some may view soccer and mathematics as disparate fields, Jesshica sees them as complementary.
“Soccer teaches me discipline, while mathematics teaches me how to think. Both reinforce one another,” she said.
Her journey began at home, where her father and younger brother both shared a passion for soccer. Following their influence, Jesshica began playing, eventually training seriously enough to join the SSB Mitra Teras Balikpapan youth club.
She trained there alongside male players, a necessity born from the lack of girls' soccer teams for her age group in Balikpapan, requiring her to adapt to a different training environment.
Meanwhile, her passion for mathematics emerged from her time attending abacus classes. Her diligence in mathematics led her to compete in various olympiads, eventually earning her recognition at the national level.
Balancing two demanding activities is no easy task. Jesshica must maintain a strict schedule to ensure that both her athletic training and academic pursuits remain on track.
Her weekly routine includes mathematics lessons on Mondays, followed by soccer practice on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. When scheduling conflicts arise, she manages her time to meet team obligations without neglecting her studies.
“I want to prove that athletes can also excel academically,” she said.
This ambition carries a message that transcends her personal journey. Jesshica’s experience demonstrates that sports achievement and education are not mutually exclusive. With effective time management and discipline, both can flourish side-by-side.
The MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars 2026 serves as a key milestone in this journey. Although the tournament did not result in a trophy, it provided invaluable competition experience, the opportunity to meet peers from across the country, and furthered her ambition to become a successful female soccer player without sacrificing her education.
“Whether winning or losing, I always learn from every match and every exam,” she noted.
This simple philosophy encapsulates Jesshica’s journey to date. At just 12 years old, she continues to learn that both athletic contests and academic examinations present challenges that require total dedication.
Throughout this journey, she has been supported by her family at every step.
Her father, Efendi, stepped away from his job for nearly a month to accompany his daughter during her training camp in Surabaya ahead of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars 2026.
“In Balikpapan, there aren't many girls her age playing, so she trains with the boys. After competing in Surabaya frequently, she finally had the chance to join the All Stars Surabaya team. We are grateful to the many people supporting Jesshica’s development,” he said.
For the family, support extends far beyond the training pitch. Efendi emphasized that they ensure education remains a priority in his daughter's development.
In addition to handling transportation to practice, the family monitors her study schedule and rest periods, and restricts daily screen time to a maximum of two hours. He believes this discipline is the foundation for Jesshica’s balanced growth.
“Jesshica is also active in math olympiads. We always remind her that school remains essential. Thankfully, she is able to manage both,” he said.
Jesshica's journey in the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars 2026 concluded in the semifinals, yet her story extends beyond the match results. She carries with her invaluable experiences, lessons, and the conviction that success on the pitch complements academic diligence. Balancing athletic pursuits with rigorous study, Jesshica continues to pursue her dreams through discipline, familial support, and an unwavering commitment to learning. (JMY/ITN/DN/mainkekudus)
