ActiveSG Football Academy announced on May 24, 2026, the upcoming launch of a girls-only football training programme at Tampines Secondary School and Ang Mo Kio Secondary School, beginning this July [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The programme is designed for girls aged three to 16 and will run in 10-week semesters, with four semesters annually [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The academy currently operates 17 centres serving roughly 4,000 participants, of which around 600 are girls, and previously offered only co-ed courses for this age group [1]. There was a pilot girls-only course held last year at the Tampines centre that attracted more than 100 participants, which helped shape the new offering [1]. Enrollment fees for each semester are SGD 130 [1].
ActiveSG Football Academy director Aleksandar Duric said many girls hesitate to join mixed-gender training due to shyness, lack of confidence, or religious reasons. He explained, "虽然希望女儿和男孩一起踢球，认为这样能让她们学得更多、变得更强，但有些女孩害羞、缺乏自信，或出于宗教原因，不希望参加男女混合训练" [1].
National women’s football player Irsalina Irwan, who began training at the academy at age nine playing with boys, praised the girls-only programme for fostering a sense of belonging and more opportunities. She noted, "Because a lot of boys will think girls are not as equal as them, and I didn’t really get the ball as much. So, maybe in an all-girls programme, they would feel that sense of belonging, that togetherness, you know, someone that will pass the ball to me more" [3]. She added, "I became much more aggressive on the field, and I would say I adapted quickly in a way. A lot of people know me for my aggressive tackling and my tenacity" [2] and said, "It’s good to see that there’re more upcoming opportunities for these young girls" [4]. Irsalina is part of the Singapore women’s national squad preparing for friendly matches against Indonesia on June 3 and Cambodia on June 6 in Bandung [2, 3, 4, 5].
Parents have expressed interest in the girls-only courses but raised concerns about the convenience of centre locations [1]. If well received, the programme may expand to one or two centres in each of Singapore’s four geographical zones next year [1].
The announcement coincided with the AFA Football Fiesta held at Our Tampines Hub from May 16 to 24, which marked the academy’s 10th anniversary since its founding in 2016 and drew over 1,000 children [1]. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo was the guest of honour at the event [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The girls-only football programme will officially begin at the Tampines and Ang Mo Kio centres in July 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
