In conjunction with World Disability Day on December 3rd, ATPI Malaysia announces its partnership with Pan-Disability Football Club, that launched on December 1st, 2024. This timely collaboration supports a groundbreaking organisation that has been transforming lives through football since 2006. Through this meaningful initiative, ATPI sponsored team jerseys for the club’s 400-strong community of players across 10 disability classifications, supporting their mission to make football accessible to all Malaysians.
“We are honoured to launch this partnership as we approach World Disability Day, supporting Pan-Disability Football Club in their remarkable journey of making sports truly inclusive in Malaysia,” says Angelica Chan, Country Manager of ATPI Malaysia. “Their impressive track record of using football as a catalyst for social development aligns perfectly with our commitment to meaningful community engagement. This partnership represents more than just jersey sponsorship – it’s about supporting a programme that has demonstrated real impact in changing lives.”
Founded by Sunny Shalesh, winner of The STAR Golden Heart Award 2021 and Malaysia’s Best Community Football Coach (MFL/FAM Anugerah Bolasepak Kebangsaan 2017), Pan-Disability Football Club has achieved remarkable success in breaking down barriers in Malaysian sports. Their programmes span multiple categories including blind football, amputee football, cerebral palsy football, frame football, and intellectually disabled futsal, offering free coaching to participants aged 6-40 years.
“This support from ATPI Malaysia will help us continue our mission of empowering people with disabilities through football,” says Sunny Shalesh, Founder and Head Coach of Pan-Disability Football Club. “Our programme has already shown 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.”
The club’s achievements include developing Malaysia’s National Blind Football Team into ASEAN champions and achieving a world ranking of 17th. Their work has 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.
As a global travel management company with over a century of heritage, ATPI understands the transformative power of sports in building communities. The company’s ATPI Inspires initiative is an employee-driven program designed to encourage acts of kindness by leveraging its diverse talents, resources, and collective passion for volunteering. At its core, ATPI believes that small, intentional actions can drive meaningful change, ultimately creating a positive and lasting impact in the communities it serves.