Cempaka Belanda: 2 Netherland soccer fields in Jakarta

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

2 Netherland soccer fields in Jakarta

BERITAJAKARTA.COM — 10/27/2009 4:57:56 PM

Soccer has been a favorite sport for the Jakartans since the Dutch Indies colonialism era. Many stadiums were old stadium from the Netherlands era.

In the 19th centuries in Indonesia, the Netherlands, the native one or other, were known as soccer lover. At that time, they had a soccer club in every area in Jakarta. Soccer or football leagues and competitions grew like mushroom in rainy season.

The clubs were Voetbalbond Indische Omstreken Sport (VIOS) in Viosveld (Menteng Park), Voetbalbond Indonesish Jakarta (VIJ) in Petojo, VIJ was gen of Persija (Jakarta League), Union Makes Strength (UMS) in Petak Singkian, Mangga Besar and Herculesin National Monument.

During the times, some clubs were vanishing. The stadiums were functionally changed. VIOS was changed to Menteng Edutainment Park and also Hercules.

A stadium in Petak Sinkian in Jl Mangga Besar, Tamansari, West Jakarta had led UMS club and Chung Hua club to the glory in 1905. They still exist until now.

Buyung, one of the Petak Sinkian stadium officials, told that the field was built in 1905. However, its grass is still green in the age of 100 years. “We always maintain the field. It has been used for the soccer practice until now,” he said, Monday (10/26). Petak Sinkian field is facilitated with VIP and festival space. It can accommodate around 100 people.

Another historical stadium is VIJ stadium on Jl Petojo VIY, Central Jakarta. It was built in 1928. In 1950 it turned to be Persija club.

VIJ was a part of Persija (Jakarta football club) history. Before the Independence Day, the stadium was built by the Indonesians to compete with NIVB (Nederlandsch Indie Voetbal Bond), the Netherlands football club which was established in 1918. NIVB never accepted Indonesian to play together.

Feeling discriminated, such Indonesian youngsters established VIJ in Petojo in 1928. They named it Jl Petojo VIJ and Jl Petojo VIY, Central Jakarta.

In 1950, VIJ was officially turned to be Persija. Its homebase moved to Menteng. Meanwhile, VIJ field is still used by the people living nearby. In 1980, the field was renovated to become a stadium. “Jakarta Capital City owns it,” Marlan, one of the field attendants said.

VIJ stadium has 110 meters in length and 70 meters in width; it also has 500 chairs.