When Aryn Williams was approached by an agent offering him the opportunity to play professional soccer in Indonesia, the first person he called was his father, Eric Williams, who had coached in Indonesia for a decade. “Dad just said straightaway ‘take the opportunity’,” Williams said.

Williams explains that he did not know anything about Indonesia or its soccer before he packed his bags. But what he discovered in Surabaya truly amazed him.

“Fanatic is the best word to describe it. The soccer team is like their church. They wake up and they live and breathe soccer. The money they make at work goes toward a new jersey, season tickets or ticket to the next game.

 “Personally, I’ve never seen anything like it [...] Once you get into the stadium, it’s next level. You can’t hear yourself think. It’s like a big party.”

Prior to playing for Persebaya Surabaya in 2019-2021, Williams had played in mostly Australian clubs with a stint in India.

Similarly, when Robbie Gaspar arrived in Indonesia in 2005, he did not know what to expect. “I’d never been to Indonesia previously. I did not know of any Australian soccer player that had played in Indonesia.

“I made some really good local friends. I decided I would learn the language as quick as possible, immerse myself in the culture to enjoy my time there and hopefully be more successful down the track.

Before playing in Indonesia, Gaspar had joined clubs in Croatia, Australia, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.

He first played for Persita Tangerang in the 2005-2006 season, where he scored two goals, before moving to Persiba Balikpapan with five goals during his stint in 2006-2009.

Gaspar’s scored the most goals with an Indonesian club when he joined Persema Malang in 2009-2011 with seven goals and ended his career in Indonesia with Persib Bandung in a goalless 2011-2012 season.

Gaspar thoroughly enjoyed his Indonesian soccer experience.

“The fans were fantastic. You could really play along with them. When I walked out on that pitch, I made sure I took in that atmosphere,” he said.

“I thought I’d only be there for one or two years but it ended up being eight years and I developed this passion and love for Indonesia.”

Gaspar recommends that other Australians play in Indonesia.

“Even coaches, fitness coaches. Whoever can go over there and experience Indonesian soccer will become better for it.

“More importantly,” said Gaspar, “they’ll come to appreciate the culture.

During his career in Indonesia, Gaspar worked to guarantee players’ rights as a leader of the Indonesian Soccer Players’ Association.

“When they started the players’ association, I saw that as another way I could help out, make change and make sure the players had a voice.

“That role in the players’ association led to my role with FIFpro — the world players’ union — and the players’ association in Australia.”

Gaspar encourages Australian soccer’s best minds to share their knowledge and work in Indonesian soccer to assist development of the sport in the neighboring nation.

Williams’ father, Eric, is one example of an Australian coach who has contributed to the development of soccer in Indonesia. Eric was the technical director of PSMS Medan, before becoming the first team coach in Medan, Surakarta and at Perseman Manokwari.

He later became the Indonesian U-17 national youth team coach.

Williams the senior said Indonesian coaches demonstrated their desire to learn and see different training practices during Coach the Coaches workshops he conducted in Medan. He was also struck by the passion Indonesians have for “the world game”.

“Passionate does not describe the Indonesian supporters enough really. They adore their teams and history tells you about the masses that go to matches,” said Williams the coach.

“I wish I had gone to Asia sooner […] Indonesia is definitely a pathway to consider if you want to coach in Asia […] I learned so much about Indonesia whilst I was coaching there. It was a wonderful experience for me personally to work with players who were always respectful and willing to learn.”

The Soccer Federation Australia (FFA) and the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2011 committing to closer soccer ties as well as more exchange programs and internationals between the two countries.

When the MoU was signed, then-FFA chairman, Frank Lowy, said, “We also believe that soccer and our federations can be important vehicles to assist in the development of relations between our two countries.”

Gaspar says this MoU should serve as a foundation for further collaboration between the two soccer federations.

“There’s so much potential where we can leverage both of our strengths for the betterment of both countries. Sports science, governance, refereeing,” he said.

“We are nearest neighbors, tetangga, there is a massive Indonesian diaspora here in Australia.

Gaspar added that sports diplomacy could build people-to-people links with both bottom-up and top-down approaches.

“It’s like soft diplomacy. Everyone speaks the same language when you are playing sport. Sport does not discriminate,” he said.

Williams the junior said his Indonesian soccer experience has sparked the interest of fellow professional players.

“I’ve had copious amounts of professional soccer players in Australia and overseas that have sent me their profiles to offer them to Indonesian clubs because they’ve seen how much I enjoy it there,” he said.

He lamented that few Australians were aware of the exciting sporting world of their nearest neighbor.

He recalled the experience in his first season when he had a match in Bali while at the same time his friends were on vacation on the resort island.

“I told them I would give them the full experience for the match,” he said.

William said he had arranged for his friends to watch the match, including a car with police escort and seats in the VIP box.

“After the match, all of them were just in awe. You would never dream of getting a police escort anywhere. Especially in Australia,” he said.

“They’ve gone home and have told their mates and now they want tickets. There’s a knock-on effect.”

As the Indonesian Liga 1 is on hold indefinitely, Williams moved to London to seek other opportunities. But he is keen to return to Surabaya to play as soon as possible and recommends that fellow Australians follow in his footsteps. 

“I’m not going to be the last Australian to play in Indonesia. I would say to players and coaching staff to go and give it a crack,” he said.

“You need to experience it at some point and see what all the hype is about. It’s somewhere where I think that Australian players can thrive.”

- The writer is an intern under the ACICIS program

Popular

Volcano erupts in North Sulawesi, hundreds evacuated

Dubai roads, airport reel from floods after record rains

Ramadan boosts consumer confidence, retail sales