Beating The Impossible

Iifan Auchep Venkatanathan, Indonesia

Goal Click teamed up with the Homeless World Cup to tell the story of the 17th edition of the Homeless World Cup in Cardiff - through the eyes of the participating players, coaches, and volunteers. More than 500 players representing over 50 countries travelled to Wales to play in the tournament.

Iifan Auchep Venkatanathan is from Bandung City in West Java, Indonesia. The Indonesian team at the Homeless World Cup is organised by Rumah Cemara (Pine Home), a community-based organisation for people living with HIV/AIDS and people who suffer from substance abuse.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?

My name is Iifan Auchep Venkatanathan and I am 37 years old. I am a PLHIV survivor and I live in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia. 

Just to hear the word ‘soccer’ used to make me clueless, I told myself ‘Impossible!’ How can I play soccer or become a member of soccer team, because since childhood I had never had any intention to take part in this sport. In Indonesia’s gay community, I rarely find those who take soccer as their hobby. Even if they did they would not acknowledge that they were also gay, since there are many aspects to consider for them not to make it known.

Even then I had never tried, so I was entirely blank on how it feels to play soccer. For sure, I was more attracted to aesthetic sport, such as going to the gym for body building or swimming. In my opinion, those two activities are more preferable for my gay friends - besides getting our body fit and healthy, we could also get in better shape to appear much more good looking and to get a partner.

I tried my best to dodge few words of bullies that are thrown from people around myself, for example: 

“Aww…look at the way he kicks the ball like a fairy”

“Uhh…you look so damn tough…please act normal”

“Do you think you can kick that ball without knocking yourself down?”

“March forward and throw yourself on to one good looking mate on field! Hahaha!”

And many other jokes…

One thing you should all know, I have no interest in such jokes, the only focus I have is how to play soccer with my team at my very best and to excel.

If only I could be deaf to those bullies. I chose to be deafened. Or I would prefer if they lost their voice. I feel hesitant for a while, I was telling myself ‘Can I do it? But let’s just give it a try!

In 2013 I was invited again to play soccer along with friends, which was facilitated by Rumah Cemara.

I started from scratch until I gained the knowledge about everything to play soccer. It took me some time to get used to it and to give my strong commitment. What distinguishes soccer is that we have to cooperate to make a solid team and build trust between team members to reach one common goal, and be fit and healthy as well to reach prestige as one team. It’s quite different with other sport activities such as body building or swimming since in these two sports achievement is more personal, to have a healthier and tougher self, that’s all.

In 2014 I had reduced my time playing soccer and came back to do body building and swimming. This year, 2019, was my time to again do soccer, which I had put off for so long. I play soccer at Bandung Family Support where Support Group Rumah Cemara has reactivated soccer again on their agenda. I could meet and greet other friends and I found my interest in playing soccer. The other motivation was that I wanted to take part in Homeless World Cup 2019 selection. 

Rumah Cemara is an organization that facilitates people from marginalized communities who have motivation to take part in playing soccer. Rumah Cemara is also the body that facilitates the selection for the team who will represent Indonesia in the Homeless World Cup tournament. This year those who participated are more varied, communities that have been involved consist of drug users, women with HIV, transgender and gay people. As part of the gay community I was given a chance and opportunity to register and follow the selection process for the Homeless World Cup this year.

Actually in previous years I had been invited to participate, but I had not found strong commitment within myself and the competition was fierce from all the other communities with soccer playing skills that were above mine. Those reasons made me hesitant to participate.

Out of many friends from my community that took part in the selection process, my name appeared in the list of 12. I had to follow several selection steps to get into the 8-person Indonesia Homeless World Cup 2019 team. I thought I was going to be excluded from the 12 since other players had soccer playing skill beyond mine, but then I committed to myself to give my strongest commitment to flourish in playing soccer.

If I could be selected, that would be my driver to develop soccer in the gay community in the future. On Sunday 12 May 2019, Rumah Cemara published the announcement for the 8 people to represent Indonesia for the Homeless World Cup 2019. I could not believe my eyes that my name appeared on the list. I then thanked God.

The real challenge was in Cardiff. I wanted our team to be the best team and the champion, while bringing up the campaign ‘Indonesia Without Stigma’ – Indonesia Tanpa Stigma at Homeless World Cup 2019 Tournament.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

I showed my team and teams from other countries and supporters around the competition venue. I wanted to show the excitement during the 2019 Homeless World Cup, my pride for the Indonesian team for taking part and knowing each other and experiencing the game with players from other countries. There was mutual respect among all Homeless World Cup teams from all countries involved.

It is cool that women's soccer teams can be as close as men's soccer teams. So far there has not been a women's team representing my country in the Homeless World Cup event. I hope that in the future there will be a team of women from Indonesia participating in a Homeless World Cup. Women have the opportunity in a Homeless World Cup to be equal. In our country there is still a lot of violence against women. Football is a way to stop violence against women.

Are there any good stories connected with the people or teams you photographed?

When our captain fell in the game, we were all very sad and felt defeated. But it became our strength to get up and fight again. My captain was exhausted after competing against other countries. According to medical staff that helped him at the venue, it was due to dehydration so his body became so tired and he almost fainted.

Why is football so important for the Indonesia and its people?

Indonesia is the second largest Football Enthusiast Country in the World but the number of Indonesians who are interested in soccer is not directly proportional to the level of participation of its citizens who go to the field and play the sport. Football in Indonesia has become a part of culture because it is a sport that is easy to play for children to adults. More importantly soccer can help make new friends.

I believe soccer in Indonesia will continue to improve because football is part of a form of peace between human beings.

What does football mean to you? What challenges has football helped you overcome?

Soccer is universal, everyone likes soccer and through soccer peace can be formed between human beings. I learned a lot from football, like self-discipline and respect.