Text and Photos: Maksum Nur Fauzan

Soccer is one of the most popular sports worldwide, including in Indonesia. There are many competitions starting from the youth level to the senior level, with both women and men participating in the sport.

During the 3^rd Bengawan Cup at Sriwedari Stadium in Surakarta, Central Java, seven female teams — namely Putri Surakarta, Siliwangi FC, Putri Kediri, Jakarta 69, Persijap Kartini Jepara, Football Plus and Putri Mataram Yogyakarta — competed at the event. They showed off their determination to excel, despite scorching heat and heavy rain.

Simey — a player for Persijap Kartini Jepara, located in a small town on the northern coast of Central Java — often plays soccer with her male friends in her hometown. It was her father who taught her to play soccer.

Sheva Imut Furyzcha, a 13-year-old player from Putri Mataram Yogyakarta, is part of the backbone of the U-15 national women’s soccer team. At 145 centimeters tall, Sheva has always been able to maneuver past her rivals and managed to win the champion title three years in a row.

Even though girls’ teams have much left to achieve, they hope such competitions can produce new talents in soccer. [yan]