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World Cup euphoria detected in Gorontalo
Citizens of Gorontalo, Sulawesi, have begun displaying various national flags at their residences and selling merchandise to welcome the most anticipated sporting event of the year, the World Cup, which will kick off in Brazil on June 12, this year
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itizens of Gorontalo, Sulawesi, havebegun displaying various national flags at their residences and sellingmerchandise to welcome the most anticipated sporting event of the year, the WorldCup, which will kick off in Brazil on June 12, this year.
Rio, 29, a soccer fan from the city, installed a Netherlands flag upon a high mango tree in front of his house. He said that the Netherlands soccer team was his favorite, even though historically it was the colonial ruler of Indonesia.
According to Rio, one's fondness for a national soccer team does not have anything to do with a sense of patriotism.
'Soccer is just my hobby. The sport belongs to all tribes and nations in the world,' he said.
Harto, 21, another soccer fan, works as a driver of a motorcycle taxi which he has decorated with mini flags of France, Argentina and Brazil. He is convinced that one of those countries will be the World Cup champion.
Street vendors are also taking advantage of the euphoria, by selling World Cup merchandise, such as t-shirts, stickers, scarves and flags. Agus Ibrahim, 38, and Lia Dillo, 36, a married couple, have invested Rp 35 million (US$3,045) to fund their stock of World Cup memorabilia, including national flags selling at a price of between Rp 120,000-Rp 250,000 each. (gda/dic)
