Community - Club

In the midst of the Indonesian football that continues to decline, even its parent organization facing complicated issues. Indonesian soccer achievement in pre-independence era turned out to be the pride and triumphed at the global level. At that time, Indonesia's national football team even became the first Asian team participated in the FIFA World Cup in 1938.

Indeed, at that time they were called as Dutch East Indies and lost 6-0 from Hungary at the Velodrome Stadium Municipale, Reims, France. At that time, Indonesia represented the Asian zone qualifying Group 12. Asian qualifying group for World Cup 1938 were only consist of 2 countries, Indonesia (Netherlands Indies) and Japan. Indonesia could qualify for the World Cup final in 1938 after Japan withdrew from the qualifying round because they have war with China.

Indonesia at the World Cup 1938In the 1930s, in Indonesia there are three soccer organizations based on race, namely Nederlandsch Indische Voetbal Bond (NIVB) later renamed Nederlandsch Indische Voetbal Unie (NIVU) in 1936, owned by Dutch people, Hwa Nan Voetbal Bond (HNVB) have the Chinese nation, and Persatoean Sepakraga Seloeroeh Indonesia (PSSI) owned by an Indonesian.

PSSI era of the 1930s was highly respected by the Nederlandsch Indische Voetbal Unie (NIVU) because Soerabajasche Indonesische Voetbal Bond (SIVB) who were wearing the stars of NIVU lost by a score of 2-1 versus Voetbalbond Indonesia Jacatra (Vij) one of the club members in a competition PSSI PSSI to III in 1933 in Surabaya.

Because of the strong team, NIVU asked PSSI for a cooperation. Such cooperation was marked by the signing of the Gentlemen's Agreement on January 15, 1937, means the PSSI was recognized by Netherlands in de facto and de jure. The agreement was also confirmed that the PSSI and NIVU became top soccer organizations in the Netherlands East Indies.

One of agreement's point also contained about a team to be sent to the World Cup, which made the match between teams formed by NIVU against a team formed by SPIS before deployment to the World Cup (a sort of team selection.)

In international matches, PSSI proved it. On August 7, 1937-member team, including Tan Malaka, Maladi, Djawad, Moestaram, Sardjan, managed mengalahakan Hwa Nan 2-0 team from China in the Arena Union, Hyderabad. Though Nan Hwa Dutch teams ever brush with the score 4-0. From here kedigdayaan PSSI team began famous.

Unilateral actions of this NIVU, Soeratin, PSSI chairman who is an activist movement of Indonesian nationalism, was furious. He refused to wear NIVU name, because if NIVU granted the right, then the players will be replaced with composition of Dutch people. Finally PSSI unilaterally canceled the Gentlemen's Agreement in a Congress in Solo, 1938.

Nivu-PSSI-1938 World Cup-Indonesia-Ahmad-NawirBecause NIVU violated the agreement, then most of the team which left for France 1938 World Cup were the Dutch. Those chosen to compete in France, namely Mo Bing Heng (goalkeeper), Herman Zommers, Franz Meeng, Isaac Pattiwael, Frans Pede Hukom, Hans Taihattu, Pan Hong Tjien, Jack Sammuels, Suwarte Soedermadji, Anwar Sutan, and Achmad Nawir (captain .)

They were trained by the coach and chairman of NIVU, Johannes Mastenbroek. Suwarte Soedermadji, Anwar Sutan, and Achmad Nawir were the indigenous players who managed to strengthen the Dutch East Indies teams, but played under the flag of Netherlands.

PSSIOn June 5, 1938, history records the massacre of Hungarian team of the Dutch East Indies. They played at the Velodrome Stadium Municipal, Reims, France. About 10,000 spectators attended the match witnessed this. Althoughit was not exactly a bad strategy, but the Dutch East Indies team couldn't do much. In the 13th minute, the Mo Heng wicket vibrated by Hungary striker Vilmos Kohut.

Then rain of goals took place in minute 15, 28 and 35. The first round ended 4-0. The fate of the Dutch East Indies team finished in the second half, with the final score 0-6. At that time the World Cup knock-out system used. Though defeated, the newspaper in the country, Sin Po, gave his appreciation on June 7, 1938 edition, featuring headlines: "Indonesia-Hongarije 0-6, Kalah Sasoedahnja Kasi Perlawanan Gagah" [Indonesia - Hungary 0-6, losing after a gallant fight]

Tan Malaka the best player

Tan MalakaIndonesia was introduced to football for the first time by the Dutch colonialists. At that time the Indonesian people are not allowed to play football on a football pitch Netherlands, for being incompetent in playing football professionally. Even at each entrance of the Dutch football pitch there is always a big billboard that read "VERBODEN voor Indonesische EN HOND", which means "FORBIDDEN FOR PEOPLE OF INDONESIA AND DOG".

Then Sutan Syahrir, one of Indonesian leader brough a little land with his 2,000 Gulden in Kwitang area and became the place for practice football. And in 1932, PSSI was founded and led by Ir. Soeratin Sosrosoegondo.

Tim Indonesia..In 1937 the world started to take into account the strength of Indonesian football. At that time, a football team with its star players managed Tan Malaka's 2-0 win over Hwa Loh clubs from China. Even Li Huitang, China recognizes Indonesia's best players playing very well, especially Tan Malaka who played incredible victory by scoring 2 goals for Indonesia, barefoot. Meanwhile, Hwa Loh players use soccer shoes.

That is a tremendous victory because three days earlier, Hwa Loh team beat the Netherlands 6-0. Victory Indonesia apparently reached the ears of FIFA, who finally decided to invite Indonesia to become a participant WORLD CUP 1938 in France.

But the Dutch did not want to lose face, so send a soccer team by the name of Nederlands-Indië (Dutch Indies) and its players were included only 3 people native to Indonesia Suwarte Soedermadji, Anwar Sutan, and Achmad Nawir. While Tan Malaka as his star was not included. Then, to be compared with current PSSI, really ironic, isn't it?

[Editor: Subhan Hardi]