Players of Sekayu Youth Soccer Academy (SYSA) pose for a team photograph prior to practice at Serasan Sekate Stadium on May 6 in Sekayu, Musi Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra. SYSA trainer Kashartadi is pictured on the right. (JP/Khairul Saleh)

The Sekayu Youth Soccer Academy (SYSA) was established in December 2004 with an aim to scout local talent throughout South Sumatra, especially from Musi Banyuasin regency.

It all started when Lee Hawkins, a former Southampton player, came to work as a trainer at the Asian Soccer Academy (ASA) in Jakarta. In 2004, Hawkins met with Musi Banyuasin regent Alex Noerdin, who offered him a chance to develop a soccer academy for youths.

The SYSA is one of several specialized sports institutions in Sekayu, South Sumatra. Other institutes include those for basketball, parachuting, swimming and diving.

Within only a few years of its existence, the SYSA has been chosen as the key training center for the Age-15 national football team (PSSI-15). Some of the PSSI-15 players - such as Rosian Indra Saputra, Dere Malman, Sunarman and Ibnu Azam - have even played in overseas matches.

Further, the success of the Musi Banyuasin Football Club (Muba FC) in reaching the finals in the Suratin Cup 2007 is inseparable from the SYSA's achievements, as this was a result of the intensive training the team underwent at the academy.

Muba FC came home a runner-up winner after crushing big teams like Persebaya (Surabaya), Persib (Bandung), Poslab (North Sumatra), Mataram FC and Aceh Putra.

Muba FC defeated Persipura (Papua) 3-1 before it was beaten by Arema (Malang) 2-1 in the final.

"They played a good game, they showed attractive play. Only, luck wasn't with us. A night match is a problem for us. However, we are proud of our achievement," Muba FC manager Safaruddin told The Jakarta Post.

To build a winning team, the SYSA and Muba FC work together by imposing strict discipline towards the development and quality of the players. Every six months, the institute holds a formal evaluation for each player, their trainers, nutrition and diet, and the players' psychological conditions.

Kashartadi, a former professional football player who is now working at the academy, boasted that the SYSA is equipped with better, more comprehensive training facilities than any other football club, including the famed clubs in Salatiga,

Central Java, and in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

"The facilities do not include only the dormitory, the school or allowances, but also solid support from the management and the local administration," said Kashartadi, who played for Kramayudha Tiga Berlian (KTB) of Palembang, West Sumatra.

Today, the SYSA is home to 42 football players from Musi Banyuasin and other cities who are registered students at Sekayu. The local administration provides them with shoes, uniforms and school fees while each player receives a Rp 300,000 (US$32) monthly allowance.

In the meantime, the students have football training five afternoons a week after regular classes.

Their training begins with an orientation to the training methods, which includes general fitness, nutrition counseling and friendly matches, in addition to football skills and techniques.

The friendlies with other clubs are also used to recruit new, top-notch talents. Aidil, 13, from

Tanjung Batu village and Yogi, also 13, from Tanjung Batu Seberang village, are two such players who were recruited through a friendly match.

These two youths were asked to join the SYSA after Muba FC visited their villages for a friendly in January.

"I am happy to join Muba FC. Hopefully, this is the start of my career as a professional football player," said Aidil.

Regent Alex Noerdin said that, rather than spending the administration's budget on hiring foreign football players just to create a sensation, he wanted to spend it on providing training for developing local talents.

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