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Scavenger’s son flies to Moscow for soccer tournament
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan sends off Indonesian youngsters to compete in the 2018 Street Child World Cup in Moscow from May 10 to May 18. (Jakarta Communication and Information Agency/-)
A child of two scavengers from West Java is currently in Moscow to represent Indonesia at an international soccer tournament.
Fourteen-year old Somad had never traveled far from his house in Bekasi until, that is, he seized a precious opportunity to fly to the capital city of Russia.
Sukaesih, 55, the mother of Somad, said it was unbelievable to see her son play soccer in the name of the country. She said she hoped Somad, who had been fond of such physical activity since he was a little boy, would win and change the family’s fate.
“I hope he can achieve his dream through playing soccer. I don’t want to see him end up as a scavenger like me, so I keep asking him to study hard,” Sukaesih said, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
Sukaesih, along with her husband and eight children, lives in a small house located within a scavengers’ neighborhood.
Somad is one of nine Indonesian street children participating in a soccer tournament named the Street Child World Cup 2018.
The event is held from May 10 to May 18 at the venue of this year’s prestigious soccer tournament, the FIFA World Cup. It is expected to see more than 200 participants from 24 countries around the globe.
Hundreds of the street children will play soccer ahead of the world cup and hopefully “can change the negative perceptions and treatment of street children everywhere,” as stated on the website of the Street Child World Cup 2018. (vny)
