Struggling to Stay in the Game: The Hardships Facing Malaysia’s Liga Wanita Nasional Players"

Malaysia’s Liga Wanita Nasional (LWN) is facing growing challenges as players struggle to balance work and football. Despite the league's second season, many players earn less than minimum wage, with some making as little as RM800 per month. To make ends meet, many juggle multiple jobs, often working evenings to attend late-night training sessions.

The salary disparity is stark—while male second-division footballers can live comfortably on salaries between RM4,000 and RM5,500, LWN players can’t rely solely on their football earnings. Only a few are able to play professionally full-time.

Puteri Arissa Balqis, a player for Malaysian University, shared her struggle: "It’s hard to focus on football when you're worried about surviving every month." Many players, including her, juggle two or three jobs, making it difficult to concentrate solely on their sport.

The global rise of women’s football has not yet been matched in Malaysia. Worldwide, women’s football leagues are thriving, with the Women's World Cup setting attendance and revenue records. The Women’s World Cup generated US$1.14 billion in 2023, showing the potential of the women's game.

However, Malaysia's LWN lags behind. While other countries like Vietnam have qualified for the Women's World Cup, Malaysia's women’s football faces funding issues and low visibility. Only a few clubs, like Sabah FA, receive support, while others, like Melaka FA, struggle financially, leaving players unpaid for months.

Puteri, who recently secured a job at Ernst & Young, voiced the need for a sustainable system: "We need a structure where players are paid fairly so we can focus on football full time."

Without substantial funding and media coverage, LWN is struggling to gain traction, with only a handful of fans showing up at matches. The league's lack of visibility makes it hard to attract sponsors, which are mostly reserved for standout players. The lack of investment and strategic development is a major obstacle for both the players and the league's future growth.

As Malaysia prepares to elevate its football scene, the challenge remains: Can Liga Wanita Nasional and its players break through the barriers of underfunding, sexism, and limited exposure?