KOTA KINABALU: Football talent is abundant across Sabah, but access to the sports science, performance technology and professional development opportunities remains limited for many young players and community coaches.
To help address this gap, Coca-Cola and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) have launched “Coca-Cola: Bina Juara”, a grassroots football development programme that brings professional-grade technology, coaching expertise and performance insights to aspiring footballers across the state.
Officiated by Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Masidi Manjun, Deputy Chief Minister II and Sabah Minister of Finance, the programme reflects a shared commitment and collaboration between public, academic and private sector partners to help strengthen opportunities for youth development through sport.
Developed in collaboration with UMS, “Coca-Cola: Bina Juara” goes beyond traditional football clinics by introducing participants to the role of sports science and data-driven performance development in modern football.
The programme combines sports science expertise and advanced football technologies to help players better understand their strengths, identify areas for improvement and elevate their performance on and off the pitch.
At the heart of the programme are three key technology-enabled assessments: GPS performance tracking vests, AI-powered match analysis and smart ball performance testing.
Together, these tools provide insights into a player’s physical preparedness, tactical awareness and technical ability, helping participants gain a clearer understanding of their game and how to improve it.
Coaches also benefit from access to performance data and analysis that can support training plans, player development and match preparation.
“Coca-Cola has been part of moments that bring Malaysians together for decades, and football continues to be one of the country’s greatest shared passions,” said Claudia Chan, Senior Director, Public Policy, Coca-Cola ASEAN & South Pacific.
“Through Bina Juara, we are helping make sports science and football development opportunities more accessible to young people who may not otherwise have access to them.
“By working with UMS and local football stakeholders, we hope to inspire greater confidence, discipline and ambition among Sabah’s next generation of football talent,” she added.
