Unfortunately, slums like this are the only place many kids have to play football in Jakarta. But if Ahok has this way, they’ll soon have a lot more green space in Kemayoran to kick the ball around
The amount of green space in Jakarta is usually pegged at a depressingly small 9.3% of its total area (most urban planners say that a city should devote at least 30% of its land to green spaces). It’s even more depressing when you consider that a great deal of that green space is devoted to golf courses that are primarily enjoyed by the city’s rich elites.
Responding to a comment from Vice President Jusuf Kalla about the need for more football in Jakarta, Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has announced that he will turn a large green area of Kemayoran, which is currently used as a golf course, into numerous football fields where youngsters can play the beautiful sport.
“We met last night with Pak JK (Jusuf Kalla) and we agree we would like to have a lot more football fields,” Ahok said at City Hall today as quoted by Tempo.
“The golf course in Kemayoran contains tens of hectares, so you can create dozens of football fields from that,” he said.
The land used for the Kemayoran golf course is actually state-owned land that was orginally granted to the city by the secretary of state. Ahok said part of the land would also be used to build low-cost apartment towers as well as housing for athletes competing at the 2018 Asian Games being hosted by Jakarta.
Ahok said he wants Jakarta to like a city in Brazilian, where kids play football everywhere there is space. He said he will also develop the capitol’s youth football leagues.
“Who knows, we could give birth to a football star,” Ahok said.
