TV owners share World Cup joy<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Soccer is the world's most favorite sport and attracts fans from
\nall walks of life. The ongoing World Cup in Korea and Japan can
\nbe enjoyed by everyone, including the poor.<\/p>\n
Although poor people have no television sets, they can always
\nfind ways to watch soccer games, whether in their neighbor's
\nhouse or at nearby foodstalls.<\/p>\n
Wardjo, a 56-year-old becak (pedicab) driver who lives in a
\nboarding house in Tangerang, said that despite having no TV set,
\nhe never missed any of the World Cup matches.<\/p>\n
\"My housemate has no TV set. Luckily, Pak Sawal, our neighbor,
\nis a soccer fan and he is always happy to have company when
\nwatching World Cup matches in his house. So his door
\nis always open for at least 10 poor neighbors,\" said Wardjo, who
\nhas been a pedicab driver for the last nine years and earns about
\nRp 10,000 (US$1.15) per day.<\/p>\n
But the father of four from Pemalang, Central Java, said that
\nduring the day when he is looking for passengers he can often
\nfind foodstalls nearby which have a television.<\/p>\n
The avid supporter of the Italian team, whose wife is a
\nvegetable vendor at the traditional market in Bukit Duri
\nsubdistrict, South Jakarta, said that since pedicabs were
\nbanned in Jakarta, he had to work in Tangerang, where
\npedicabs are free. He visits his wife and four children in
\nBukit Duri twice a week.<\/p>\n
\"I like the Italian team because they are always exciting to
\nwatch. I hope the team will reach the final,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Kalim, a 40-year-old former leprosy patient of Tangerang
\nSitanala Lepers Hospital, who earns a living begging on the
\nstreet, always carries with him soccer match schedules.<\/p>\n
From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. everyday, Kalim, who supports the
\nArgentinean team, sits with crossed legs, begging, braving the
\nheat at Jl. TMP-Taruna-Jl. Veteran intersection, about 100 meters
\nfrom Tangerang Women's Penitentiary.<\/p>\n
Despite not having a TV set, he never missed a world soccer
\nmatch and could name many players taking part in the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\"When a soccer game is aired on TV at midday or in the
\nafternoon, I usually crawl to the nearest foodstall, which has a
\ntelevision,\" said Kalim, whose both legs have been amputated due
\nto leprosy.<\/p>\n
Kalim said that if he was home, he would watch games at his
\nneighbor's house. \"Normal people are likely to close their doors
\nfor people like me, but luckily my neighbor is also an ex-leprosy
\npatient and he has a television,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, 50-year-old Slamet, a garbageman who lives in
\nGelam Jaya subdistrict of Pasar Kemis district said that
\nhe always watched soccer games at his neighbors' homes
\nand expected his favorite team, England, to reach the final.<\/p>\n
\"I like soccer very much, so I won't miss any game aired on
\nTV, even though I don't have a television set,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The father of five always goes to his neighbor's house to
\nwatch World Cup matches. Luckily, his neighbor Lutfi is very kind
\nand has allowed him, along with several other poor neighbors, to
\npack his small house when matches are aired.<\/p>\n
Slamet, who has to walk every morning from house to house
\nin the Villa Tangerang Regency II housing complex to
\ncollect household garbage and take it to the dump, said he could
\nnot afford to buy a TV set because he only earns Rp 150,000 a
\nmonth from his job.<\/p>",
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