One for the album: Members of the Pan-Disability Football Club posing for a photograph.
PETALING JAYA: Since being established in 2006, the Pan-Disability Football Club have become Malaysia’s pioneering inclusive football programme, offering free coaching across 10 disability classifications.
The club have transformed hundreds of lives through their comprehensive approach to football education and training, promoting social inclusion, physical well-being, and personal development.
Recently, in conjunction with World Disability Day on Dec 3, the Pan-Disability Football Club announced their partnership with ATPI Malaysia, making them the team’s jersey sponsor for their 400-strong community of players.
This timely collaboration supports the groundbreaking organisation that has been transforming lives through football since 2006 when it was founded by Sunny Shalesh, who is also the head coach of Pan-Disability Football Club.
Winner of The Star Golden Heart Award 2021 and Malaysia’s Best Community Football Coach in 2017, Sunny’s effort has seen Pan-Disability Football Club achieve remarkable success in breaking down barriers in Malaysian sports.
“The support from ATPI Malaysia will help us continue our mission of empowering people with disabilities through football,” he said.
“Our programme has already shown a significant impact from producing Asean Para Games champions to helping participants secure university placements and start their own businesses.
“These jerseys represent more than team uniforms, they symbolise dignity, inclusion, and the recognition of our players as athletes.’’
Their programmes span multiple categories including blind football, amputee football, cerebral palsy football, frame football, and intellectually disabled football, offering free coaching to participants aged six to 40 years old.
Playing their hearts out: Players in action during a match.
The club’s achievements include guiding Malaysia’s National Blind Football Team into the Asean Championships and achieving a world ranking of 17th.
Their work has also been featured in award-winning campaigns such as Digi’s “Footbraille” and the documentary film “Eye On The Ball,” demonstrating their significant influence in promoting inclusive sports in Malaysia.
“Eye On The Ball, tells the incredible true story of a group of young part-time blind football players who rose to become Asean Para Games champions, and their quest to reach the “World Cup” of blind football.
As a global travel management company with over a century of heritage, ATPI understands the transformative power of sports in building communities.
This partnership represents another milestone in ATPI’s ongoing commitment to supporting initiatives that create positive social impact in the country.
ATPI Malaysia country manager Angelica Chan said they are honoured to work with the club in conjunction with World Disability Day.
“We are honoured to launch this partnership in conjunction with World Disability Day, supporting Pan-Disability Football Club in their remarkable journey of making sports truly inclusive in Malaysia.
“Their impressive track record of using football as a catalyst for social development perfectly aligns with our commitment to meaningful community engagement.
“This partnership represents more than just jersey sponsorship, but it’s about supporting a programme that has demonstrated real impact in changing lives,” she said.
