kapanlagi.com

JAKARTA: Ever since he was a kid, actor and presenter Darius Sinathrya dreamed of becoming a soccer player – a dream the 24-year-old finally abandoned last year.

“At 23, I was deathly serious about becoming a professional soccer player,” says the husband of model and presenter Donna Agnesia. “But when I talked to Donna and she asked me, ‘Do you really want to leave showbiz?’, my heart was divided.

“So I finally told myself to forget [about the dream] and consider soccer only as my hobby,” he adds.

His decision left him with a bit of a hole in his heart, but Darius found a way to fill it: Training others.

Darius set up a futsal center in the SCBD business district in Sudirman, South Jakarta. He formed an amateur team and starting giving training in futsal, an indoor version of association football.

Although it’s a business, “We’ll also give scholarships to those who have a strong motivation but can’t afford [to pay for the course],” Darius said at the recent opening. “At least I can contribute something to the Indonesian soccer scene.”

Darius claims his futsal center is the first in the country to embrace international standards. “I’m also planning to open another one like this in Bumi Serpong Damai, Tangerang, next month.”

Darius’ wife Donna says she reminded her husband to be prepared for any business risks.

“I told him that futsal [business] isn’t always profitable,” says the 30-year-old mother of two.

“But he said he was optimistic about it. Besides, it’s his idealistic project.” — JP

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