Indonesia finishes fourth in Homeless World Cup 2012

Arya Dipa, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java | Sports | Tue, October 16 2012, 2:06 PM

Indonesian team: (Courtesy of homelessworldcup.org/Oz Dror)

Racking up eight victories and 35 goals, Indonesia has finished in fourth place in this year’s Homeless World Cup, a street soccer tournament for marginalized people.

“The competition was an emotional moment for the players. We hope that soccer can change their lives when they come back to Indonesia,” Derajat Ginanjar from Rumah Cemara, the community-based counseling house for drug addicts and HIV/AIDS patients that organized the players, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

During the Cup, held in the Plaza de la Constitution in Mexico City, Mexico, from Oct. 6 to Oct 14, the Indonesian team played 12 matches that ended in eight victories, two draws and two loses.

Indonesian Doni Aristyawan was named the best coach of the tournament.

Indonesia defeated the Czech Republic, Greece, Bulgaria, and Scotland. Indonesia was defeated by host country Mexico in the semifinals, 6-9, and lost third place to Brazil, 2-6 on Monday.

Chile won the tournament with an 8-5 victory over Mexico.

The Indonesian team comprised nine members: captain Bonsu Hasibuan and teammates Farid Satria, Muhammad Nasib Iqbal, Doni Setiawan, Arif Apriadi, Adik Mardina Irawan, Mozes Manuhutu, Anton Sugiri, Suherman. Five of them are people living with HIV/AIDS.

“This achievement cannot be taken lightly,” Ginanjar added.

The Homeless World Cup was started in 2003. This year’s participants came from 54 countries around the globe. In Indonesia’s debut in the tournament last year, its eight-player team finished sixth. (rad/lfr)