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Petaling Jaya, September 24 2024 - Hailed as the biggest and most inclusive futsal event in the country, MILO® Hidup Bola Futsal Carnival (also known as Hidup Bola) delivered on its promise of discovering rising stars from among the young Malaysian hopefuls who participated. Following a nationwide series of matches filled with hope and passion as a record number of 12,000 participants contended for the top spots, the winners of the 2024 tournament have earned their rightful place.
PFA Odin FC, the Under-16 champions, celebrate their victory at the MILO® Hidup Bola Futsal Carnival, accompanied by Lim Kerwin, Head of Sports Marketing of MILO®, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad and Sheena Ayesha Dina Rizal, Assistant Sports Marketing Manager of MILO®, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad.
The crowned champion of this year’s tournament grand finale for the Under-16 team, Court Soccer ‘A’ took home a cash prize of RM15,000.00 and the MILO® Hidup Bola Cup, celebrating their 3rd consecutive championship title with an outstanding performance. This year’s tournament also saw notable achievements from PFA Odin FC from Sarawak, who reclaimed their 1st runner-up title in the Under-16 category since 2019. Meanwhile, Akademi Bola Sepak Wira Muda (AWM) from Penang emerged as the winners in the Under-12 category, securing their first MILO® Hidup Bola Under-12 championship title since the club’s inception in 2018.
Akademi Bola Sepak Wira Muda (AWM), the Under-12 champions, proudly celebrate their hard-earned victory at the MILO® Hidup Bola Futsal Carnival, joined by Lim Kerwin, Head of Sports Marketing of MILO®, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad and Sheena Ayesha Dina Rizal, Assistant Sports Marketing Manager of MILO®, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad.
“We have tried several times over the years but were always unable to qualify for the grand finale. However, the team’s high spirits paid off as we not only qualified but also secured the 1st place in our category this year. A huge shoutout to MILO® for establishing the MILO® Hidup Bola as a platform for the futsal community across Malaysia. Keep it up, MILO®! We will fight together!” said Shahrul Faizal bin Ahmad, coach of AWM.
PFA Odin FC, the Under-16 team shakes hands with their coach in a moment of respect and camaraderie.
In its 18th instalment this year, Hidup Bola continues to raise the profile of futsal among young grassroot Malaysians, while MILO®, a strong advocate of balanced and active lifestyles for decades, has been a driving force in the development of youth in sports for Malaysia.
“The talent of young futsal players was amazing to witness at this year’s Hidup Bola tournament which pulled out all the stops so we could give as many players as possible an opportunity to show off their skills,” said Lim Kerwin, Head of Sports Marketing of MILO®, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad. “As a brand committed to fostering a culture of health and vitality, sports is aligned with our broader mission to contribute to a healthier nation. Through futsal as one of the largely played sports among Malaysians, we strive to instil the importance of values like persistence, discipline and teamwork, which are essential on and off the court. Hidup Bola remains a clear testament to the power of sports in uniting communities and inspiring youth to pursue their dreams, while the tournament continues to be a premier platform for MILO® to unleash talent and enable young stars to shine.”
Hidup Bola saw a vibrant display of prowess, with the players exhibiting stellar performances and embodying the true spirit of sportsmanship. All 13 states and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur were represented in two categories comprising under-12 and under-16 age groups. The tournament has been instrumental in discovering next-generation sports talent since 2006, including Nik Akif Syahiran bin Nik Mat, a former participant of MILO® Hidup Bola, who is now a professional footballer and midfielder for Penang in the Malaysia Super League.
Players exhibit dynamic action and strong teamwork on the futsal court, with excitement and joy radiating throughout the MILO® Hidup Bola Futsal Carnival.
For more information on MILO® Hidup Bola, please visit https://www.milo.com.my/get-active/milo-hidup-bola.
About MILO®
MILO® is the leading nutritious chocolate malt beverage in Malaysia beloved for its iconic taste. Packed with the goodness of malt barley, milk and cocoa with a unique blend of 6 vitamins and 3 minerals, MILO® has fueled generations of champions with the energy to go further. For over 70 years, MILO® has grown alongside Malaysia and been a vital part of the nation’s sports heritage, providing athletes the nutrition as well as the platform to grow and flourish through the various MILO® grassroots sports programmes.
About Nestlé Malaysia
Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage manufacturer. Headquartered in Switzerland, Nestlé is present in more than 180 countries around the world, and our 270,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come. Our performance is driven by our Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy. Nourishing Malaysians since 1912, Nestlé has earned the trust of our consumers through our quality brands and products. We are committed to improving the lives of the communities in which we operate, whilst maintaining our Halal excellence and integrity. To learn more about Nestlé, do visit https://www.nestle.com.my/ask-nestle/we-are-nestle.
For more information, please contact:
Shaheen Zaffar
Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad
Tel: (+603) 7965 6456
E-mail: [email protected]
Deepa Mukundan or Yasmin Kadir
acorn communications
Tel: (+603) 7958 8348
E-mail: [email protected]