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Football fans from across Jakarta and throughout Indonesia were invited to RPTRA Bhinneka, located in the Pesanggrahan district of Jakarta, to join a celebration of football culture, as the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga’s “Bundesliga Common Ground” project arrived in South East Asia.
In association with local partners and communities, “Bundesliga Common Ground” is renovating and revitalising football pitches around the world to offer more young people the opportunity to play and enjoy football. Throughout the day, a youth football tournament took place, as well as an all-star match, featuring Indonesian football legends Ponaryo Astaman and Firman Utina, and famous faces such as national celebrities Augie Fantinus and Rico Ceper.
“Every footballer began in the same way”
Alongside senior representatives from a number of Bundesliga clubs, including FC Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach, 2014 World Cup winner and Bundesliga champion Roman Weidenfeller was on site, taking part in the all-star match, as well as speaking with fans and media.
“Every footballer began in the same way: playing locally with friends”, Weidenfeller said. “During my time as a player, I never forgot those memories, and I always wanted to see how I could help others to fall in love with football the way I did. As a representative of the Bundesliga and of Borussia Dortmund, I have had the privilege to visit Indonesia and many countries within Asia, witnessing how wonderful the people are and how much they love football in this part of the world. I’m honoured to work with the Bundesliga to launch such a meaningful project, from which the community will benefit.”
The pitch in Jakarta is the seventh pitch that has been refurbished, after pitches in Lagos (Nigeria), Mexico City (Mexico), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina), New York (USA) and Berlin (Germany) were opened.
The long-term goal is to ensure a safe space for local communities, serving as a hub for community events, as well as being tangible contact point for the Bundesliga’s fanbase around the world. Each pitch is handed over to the local relevant authority, for sports clubs and organisations to use. In addition, Bundesliga clubs will continue to invest in grassroots football, hosting coaching sessions and Bundesliga watch parties, all with the goal of inspiring young people to be active and enjoy sport.
“Football is enjoyed by people universally”
Peer Naubert, Bundesliga International Chief Marketing Officer, said: “Common Ground is extremely important for us as we seek to make a lasting impact in communities around the world. Football is enjoyed by people universally, and by providing a safe and enjoyable space to play the sport we all love so much, we are strengthening the bond which ties all of us together.
“Indonesia is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing football fanbases, and this is certainly reflected in the popularity of the Bundesliga. With an increase of 40% in average viewership, as well as the biggest growth in our YouTube subscriber base coming from Indonesia, we know more and more fans are choosing Bundesliga clubs to follow and support. Alongside our historic clubs and their exciting performances on the pitch each week, we hope that this Common Ground project – and those globally – will help to inspire the next generation of players, coaches and fans.”
