Stepping onto the pitch during a match. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: When Cheryl Lynn Pereira walks onto the pitch, ice packs and tape in hand, she is not just carrying the weight of a player’s recovery.
She is carrying the hopes of a new generation of women breaking into Malaysia’s male-dominated sports landscape.
At just 25, Cheryl is the only female physiotherapist in this season’s Malaysia Super League.
For the Melaka-born former school sprinter, the journey from the starting blocks of the 100m and 200m to the sidelines of Kuala Lumpur is as inspiring as it is unexpected.
“I knew stepping into this field meant entering a male-dominated industry,” said Cheryl, who also works at Axis Physiotherapy and assists chief physio P. Renesh during matches.
“But instead of being intimidated, I used it as motivation to succeed. If I can be here, maybe it helps other women believe they can too.”
She knows her stuff: Cheryl Lynn Pereira treating a Kuala Lumpur player at the physiotherapy centre.
Sports have always been a constant in Cheryl’s life. At SMK Canossa Convent, she collected multiple Olahragawati (Sports-woman) titles between 2013 and 2017, representing her school at Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) competitions.
Yet, despite her early promise as a sprinter, Cheryl sensed her athletic career had reached the ceiling.
“When I finished SPM, I wasn’t sure what was next. My cousin introduced me to physiotherapy, and I thought, ‘Why not use my background to help athletes instead?’” she recalled.
That decision led her to Inti International University and eventually, to an internship in Kuala Lumpur in 2023.
Within two years, she rose from working with the Under-23 extension team to becoming part of the senior Kuala Lumpur medical staff.
Breaking into elite men’s football was never going to be straightforward. Cheryl admits that being the only woman in a backroom staff full of men meant she had to prove herself early on.
“As this is my first Super League team, there were definitely moments where I had to earn the players’ trust. But over time, respect grows when they see you know what you’re doing,” she said.
She also credited the supportive environment at the club and the Youth and Sports Ministry’s safe sport initiatives, which have reinforced professionalism across Malaysian football.
“I’ve been treated with respect by the players, management, and coaches. It shows the game is moving forward - not just in performance but in professionalism,” Cheryl said.
For Renesh, Kuala Lumpur’s chief physio and CEO of Axis Physiotherapy, Cheryl’s rise is no accident. He has seen her potential from day one.
“From the very beginning, Cheryl showed a clear passion for football and sports physiotherapy,” said Renesh.
“During her time with the KL City FC extension team, she consistently demonstrated strong clinical skills, professionalism, and the ability to connect with players and coaches. All of that earned my trust.”
He added that her promotion to the senior squad was a natural step up.
“I recognised that she not only has the technical skills but also the right attitude and composure to perform at a higher level.
‘‘With the senior squad’s demands increasing this season, I knew she was ready to step up and contribute alongside me in the Super League.”
Her presence, Renesh said, has been a real asset to the team.
“Cheryl is professional, hardworking, and dependable, which makes my job easier and the medical team stronger. The players respect her because she’s consistent and capable.
“When it comes to having a female physio in the team, I believe it’s not about gender but about competence and dedication.
“Cheryl has shown she has both, and her presence also represents progress in Malaysian football - proving that opportunities in sports medicine should be open to anyone with the right skills and passion.”
For Cheryl, being the only female physio in the league this season is both a personal achievement and a reminder of how much further Malaysian football can go in terms of representation.
“Representation matters. There’s no reason female physios should be limited to women’s sports.
“It’s about what you bring to the table – your skills, knowledge, and ability to support the team. I hope my presence here opens the door for more women.”
On match days at the Cheras Football Stadium, as the City Boys fans roar, Cheryl blends seamlessly into the chaos of football - sprinting to aid an injured winger, taping ankles before kick-off, or quietly monitoring recovery routines.
Yet her presence tells a bigger story – one of resilience, representation and rewriting traditions in Malaysian football.
