Dignity Cup - Support Programs | Dignity For Children Foundation

Dignity Cup

The first and only football & volleyball tournament for the marginalized community in Malaysia

What is it about?

Dignity Cup is an inspiring initiative by Dignity for Children Foundation that transcends sport to become a movement for social change. Evolving from the legacy of the Faisal Cup—which has empowered over 11,000 marginalized children and youth across Malaysia since 2006—the Dignity Cup continues to champion inclusion, empowerment, community, and hope.

More than just a football tournament, the Dignity Cup is a platform for transformation and empowerment through sports. It unites communities, nurtures leadership, breaks down barriers, and fosters friendships across Malaysia’s diverse population—empowering marginalized youth to become confident, capable, and compassionate leaders.

As we embark on this new chapter, we seek partners and sponsors who believe in the transformative power of sports. Your support will help provide resources like logistics, equipment, coaching, and—most importantly—opportunities for underserved children to rise, grow, and thrive.

How it all started

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in April 2006, just as the excitement surrounding the World Cup began to build, one of our students Faisal, drowned while trying to fetch an old football he saw floating in the Gombak river.

Faisal never had an opportunity to play football as his squatter home lacked any safe area to play and his unemployed parents could never afford to buy him a ball, let alone send him for training.

Faisal gave up his life just for a chance to play with a RM20 ball.

The Faisal Cup was initiated to ensure that children from underprivileged backgrounds have an equal opportunity to play in a safe environment. It is to ensure that never again would a child lose their life over something that seems so small to us but is so important to them.

The Journey

2006

First Edition of Faisal Cup

In 2006, we held our first ever Faisal Cup tournament with 3 teams and 45 players in U15

2007

Introduced Netball & Increased Participants

To open up more opportunities to play, we added Netball and had an increase of participants: 24 teams and 168 players.

2012

First Peace Camp

Peace Camp is a values-based workshop designed to foster untiy, respect, and understanding among the diverse Faisal Cup participants.

2013

Girls' Football

Girls football categories were established, with 13 teams and 91 girls joining the Under 10 & Under 12 category.

2014

Manchester City Partnership

Through Manchester City Football Club’s (MCFC) Cityzens Giving Programme, 14 Young Leaders from Dignity were flown to Manchester City to experience the Young Leader Summit.

2015

10th Anniversary Faisal Cup

We marked a momentous decade of restoring hope and dignity through the Faisal Cup, this was also the year we introduced the U8 category and the U18 Girls category.

2019

Faisal Cup in Other States

The team brought Faisal Cup to Penang and Johor. Grassroots learning centres participated and Dignity team got to play in the tournament too.

2019

11-a-side Category

We launched the 11-a-side category for the first time, giving players the chance to experience the full scale of the beautiful game, as we take baby steps towards nurturing professional football talents.

2024

Taking on Bukit Jalil Stadium

First year of Dignity Cup with a record-setting 184 teams and 1,705 players. Increased participation from local schools and Orang Asli communities! The launch of Volleyball games.

2025

Dignity Cup

First year of Dignity Cup with a record-setting 184 teams and 1,705 players. Increased participation from local schools and Orang Asli communities! The launch of Volleyball games.

The Impact (2006-2024)

11,029

Total Players

1,406

Total Teams

Boys' Football

8,674

Total Players

1141

Total Teams

Girls' Football

2,237

Total Players

293

Total Teams

Our Partners

Participant Testimonial

Kazi Azlan, 18 (Dignity)

Participating in the Dignity Cup taught me how to stay calm under pressure and trust my teammates. I became more confident in my abilities and learned the importance of discipline and teamwork both on and off the field. My most memorable moment during the Dignity Cup was the Semi Finals, where we won with an amazing final score and I scored a hatrick. Yes, I made new friends from other schools and bonded more with my teammates. I learned that our team has strong spirit and resilience. It motivated me to continue improving and training harder. It was much more exciting and competitive than I expected. Playing Dignity Cup will probably be the highlight of my whole schooling journey.

Sian Lun Kim, 17 (Dignity)

The Dignity Cup helped me improve my social and communication skills. I became more confident talking to new people, working with teammates I didn’t know well, and interacting with students from other schools. My most memorable moment was in 2024 when we won the championship. It also helped me make new friends and become a better team player. I learned that I perform best when I stay focused and trust myself. The Dignity Cup motivated me to work harder on my skills and fitness. I would highly encourage other schools and students to join because it helps you grow both as a player and as a person.

Mohammad Roehib Ammar, 17 (Dignity)

I learned to stay composed even when things weren’t going our way. By taking more responsibility and communicating with my teammates, I discovered how to lead in my own way. My most memorable moment was when our team won a match even when our chances seemed low. Playing in a 5-a-side team taught me to trust my teammates faster. Even when we weren’t the strongest team, we never gave up. Competing in tournaments helped me realize why I love the game. I would really encourage others to join for the competitive spirit, building friendships, and representing their school.

Maleeha Noor, 10 (Dignity)

This competition helped me grow stronger, kinder, and more fearless as a player.

Ahston Ethan, 17 (MSRI)

The dignity cup helped me come out of my comfort zone because I am generally a quiet person. My best moment in the dignity cup was when I won the best goalkeeper award. In dignity cup I build so many long lasting friendships that I never thought I could ever build. I learnt that in the dignity cup that I am actually a very charismatic person that can lead my team no matter the circumstances. Dignity cups inspired me to look forward to tournaments that can let me express my talents. The dignity cup is a good opportunity for people to come out of their comfort zones because of how grand it is and the variety of people you meet.

John Baptist, 14 (Elshaddai)

I learned a lot of things. As a player, I realized that I need to improve more on my football. Even though I played not that well, my coaches and my teammates told me not to give up. My favorite memory was when my close friend scored a penalty and we won the game. The Dignity Cup helped me improve in what I lack or which part of football I haven't mastered yet. This tournament motivated me to push myself and not give up. I had a lot of fun and would encourage my friends to experience football with another school or players.

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Help us grow our work in creating a safe space for young athletes. Your donation can fund a team, provide sports gear, or tournament, helping students play, learn, and grow through sports.

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