The history of football in Indonesia, we can trace it further at least before the era of Independence, when this country was still known as the Dutch East Indies.
The Netherlands as a Colonial Country, which at that time was one of the countries that had quite a lot of Colonial areas, was arguably quite instrumental in introducing and disseminating Football. At least in the colonies, including the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).
Because football itself in its history, was first famous and much in demand in the European region, before finally spreading widely throughout the world. If we talk about the role of colonial countries in introducing football, maybe not only the Netherlands.
Because there were many colonial countries that at that time had many colonies, both in America, Africa, and Asia.
In addition to the Netherlands, colonial countries such as England, France, Portugal, and Spain, at that time also had many colonies outside the European continent. These colonial countries, in fact, had a big enough role in introducing and disseminating football.
Even though in fact, traces of Football Game have appeared in the Archipelago (Indonesia) and other Southeast Asian regions, at least since the end of the 11th century.
This "Ancient Football" appears in Malay Culture under the name Sepak Raga. Robert Crego, in the book Sports and Games of the 18th and 19th Centuries (pp. 29-31), writes, that Marco Polo once claimed to be the first person to introduce Football in Southeast Asia, the game itself was brought from China.
Then, until the early 20th century, the net was introduced which separates the two areas for each team in this game. Football, played by a group of people in a circular position, each other kicking an object (a kind of ball) in the air.
According to Anthony Reid, in the book Southeast Asia in the Commerce Period 1450-1680, Volume I: Land Under the Wind, especially in the chapter on Crowd Parties and the World of Entertainment, it is written that this game is played in Burma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), South Vietnam , the Philippines, and the archipelago (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei).
In these areas, Sepak Raga is played in a similar way, where several people form a circular formation, then play the ball with each other to keep the ball floating in the air by kicking it with their feet, knees or thighs. The ball is made of Sea Rattan which is similar to a small round basket.
Anthony Reid also wrote, at that time Football was not to be competed. Sepak Raga is intended to promote dexterity and to train the body, restore flexibility in the back and leg bones that are sore from sitting, reading, writing or even playing (a type of) chess.
And according to Reid, one of the reasons why people in Southeast Asia enjoy playing games is because of the friendly climate, and food that tends to be easier to get than in other parts of the world. They may have more free time to spend on entertainment, singing to each other, playing and throwing parties.
The book, entitled History of Melayu, which was written in 1612, has reported the existence of the game of Sepak Raga during the reign of Sultan Alauddin, around the 13th century (1477-1488). The book writes praises for a Maluku nobleman who demonstrated his ability to play Sepak Raga while visiting Malacca.
The quote is as follows: "...As for the King of Maluku, it is too taboo to play soccer. So all the gentlemen's children play with... the King of Maluku. (times) then he will give it to someone else: then whoever wants to give a body, then he will show that there is nothing wrong with it. After that, he sits on a chair, straining his tiredness......"
to be continued...
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