Under the attentive watch of a coach, the kids look engrossed in their game as they harbor dreams of becoming professional soccer players.

They joke at times but enjoy the training session while their parents or companions follow them from outside the field.

The training ground inside the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex has become a regular playing venue for the students of Asiana Soccer School.

The school, which was founded in September 2018, recruits soccer trainees under a fellowship program.

“We do not take money at all from the parents. We have a mission to develop soccer talent to contribute to national soccer advancement,” team manager Iwan told The Jakarta Post while he supervising the training.

The kids have been recruited from other soccer schools as well as common schools through a talent scouting program.

“We limit the number to 18 to enable more focused training,” Iwan said.

In its fledging operation, Asiana has boasted several achievements in China, Singapore with the most recent respected result coming from its Thailand tour last November.

Despite being freed from any expenses and the prospect of being able to step up the soccer ladder toward possible fame, Tino has decided to withdraw his son, citing that they could not cope with the hectic schedule.

“Taking my son to training tired me out. Fino also looked tired. Finishing his school at 3 p.m., he trained from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., three times a week. And we had to brace for more hectic days of tournaments and sparring games,” he said.

He said Fino continued to hone his soccer skills at his school and vividly held onto his dream of playing at the international level.

Asiana may serve as a source of hope for Indonesian soccer. Quite often, soccer fans witness young players fare well but falter in the latter stage of their development.

Iskandar, one of Asiana’s trainers, pointed out the importance of shaping the kids’ fighting spirit besides skills and physical buildup.

“Three key factors to success are skills, physicality and mentality,” said the former midfielder of Jakarta’s Persija soccer club.

“We train them in discipline and attitude. That can contribute to mental development. The kids must get used to playing without fear. They should not feel overwhelmed by opponents,” he said.

“At their age, they have a long way to go. Their true talents will become evident when they reach 13 or 14 years old,” he added.

Laksmiari “Asti” Saraswati, who oversees the kids’ social and psychological buildup, sees to it that they are fired up during training.

“I have to ensure the kids are developing confidence, respect each other and can overcome anxiety,” she said.

They are encouraged to not be selfish. “They must be aware that any achievement on the field is not the result of individual work but team work,” Asti, who has experience on the national youth team, said.

Asiana employs around 15 coaching members, including a technical director, assistant coaches and a masseur.

The number of staff is likely to expand when Asiana becomes an academy as planned by the patronage board.

Meanwhile, on the roadside of Depok, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Panca takes care of his young trainees practically by himself, with Yudo Hadiyanto, national goalkeeper in 1960s, being his only companion.

“Pak Yudo has joined us only recently. He is keen on helping in the goalkeeping voluntarily,” he said.

He gives private training to some 20 kids under a soccer community group called Jimmy Hantu Soccer (JHS).

A vocational high school graduate and former goalkeeper of the Persija junior team, he has an undying passion for soccer.

He has attained a trainer certificate and been a coach at two soccer schools, while also engaging in JHS with support from the trainees’ parents.

The kids train on the playing ground encroached by the dense residential houses.

Rainwater is logged on some parts of the ground while household waste piles up at the entrance.

The bleak condition does not appear to bring down Panca’s spirit, though he does reconcile with the limited training resources when speaking about the holy mission.

“I don’t promise to make them big players. I do have such a dream but at the moment I just try to train them to become better,” Panca, 45, said.

He spoke about teaching his apprentices basic skills as well as building good relations with their parents to allow consultation about the kids’ progress.

He also spoke out against shortcuts that some schools tried to take for tournaments.

“Some soccer schools will look for good players, instead of fielding their own students, with the ambition making their school popular,” he said.

Panca believes achievements will follow development.

“I am sure the kids can become good players as long as they have strong will,” he said.

Arka, 13, one of JHS trainees, has faith in his mentor to help him realize his dreams.

His father said that Arka, who had gone to a soccer school before joining JHS, was highly motivated and trained at home in his spare time.

“Learning how to play soccer has been his own aspiration. As parents, we support his decision,” Bachtiar said.

“He says he wants to play for the national team and when he turns professional he wants to help his parents go on the haj,” he said.

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