Jacksen Tiago Praises MilkLife Strikers' Mentality After Crushing Lion City Sailors 6-1
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- MilkLife Strikers memulai Singa Cup 2026 dengan kemenangan 6-1 atas Lion City Sailors, dengan Ika Wonda mencetak hattrick.
- Pelatih Jacksen Tiago menekankan efektivitas penyelesaian peluang dan ketangguhan mental menghadapi tekanan tuan rumah.
- Kemenangan ini menempatkan MilkLife Strikers bersaing di puncak klasemen Grup A bersama Selangor FC Academy A, dengan laga berikutnya melawan Rato Bangala School.
MilkLife Strikers, the team representing Indonesia in the Singa Cup 2026 Girls U12 category, opened their campaign with a resounding 6-1 win over Lion City Sailors at The Rainforest Hub, West Coast, Singapore, on Sunday (1/11/2026). The result drew immediate praise from coach Jacksen F. Tiago, who felt his players performed efficiently and showed a competitive mentality.
According to Jacksen, the key to his team's success was their ability to make the most of every chance. He highlighted how Lion City Sailors applied high pressure at times, but MilkLife Strikers managed to exploit gaps in the opponent's back line. "I stressed to the players that even the smallest chance must be converted into a goal. That is what they did today," Jacksen said in his statement.
Beyond the technical side, Jacksen also praised his players' mental strength. Playing in front of the home crowd and facing a strong Singaporean team, these young players were able to overcome their nerves. "I am pleased they could withstand the pressure and stay focused. The experience of playing here is very valuable for their development," he added.
The win was also the product of intensive preparation before the team departed for Singapore. Jacksen said the main focus in training was building chemistry among the players, given that they came from different team backgrounds. "We deliberately created a close-knit atmosphere so they could gel quickly. On the pitch, they looked cohesive and supportive of one another," he explained.
"Coach said a striker's job is to score goals. I am happy I could carry out that job well today," said Ika Wonda after the match.
Ika Wonda, who impressed with her three goals, said she was happy to contribute to the team. She stressed that the result was the fruit of all the players' hard work during the training camp. "We trained very intensively. This win is for all my teammates who fought hard," she said.
With this result, MilkLife Strikers collect three points and are locked in a tight race with Selangor FC Academy A at the top of the Group A standings. Both teams won on the first day. Next, MilkLife Strikers will face Nepal's representative, Rato Bangala School, on Monday (2/11/2026) at the same venue.
The Singa Cup 2026 Girls U12 category features four teams in Group A. The competition uses a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final while the bottom two play off for third place. The event is an important stage for the development of youth girls' football in Southeast Asia.
For Indonesia, MilkLife Strikers' participation in the Singa Cup 2026 is an indication of the growth of youth girls' football development. The team is the result of selection from the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All-Stars, a program initiated by Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation together with MilkLife. Their success on the international stage is expected to spur similar enthusiasm in other regions and broaden the base of girls' players in the country.
The question ahead: can MilkLife Strikers maintain their consistency and reach the final? The match against Rato Bangala School will be the next test. If they can secure a positive result, their chances of appearing in the title decider will be even more open.
