Dedi Mulyadi Acts as Goalkeeper, Promises Rp200,000 Prize if Papuan Children Can Score

Dedi Mulyadi, known for his role as the Governor of West Java, recently took on the unexpected role of a football goalkeeper. This moment occurred when Dedi Mulyadi encountered a group of Papuan children playing football along the beach.

After interacting with the group, Dedi Mulyadi challenged the children to score a goal against him, promising a reward of Rp200,000 if they succeeded. Last week, Dedi Mulyadi, accompanied by five Regents and one Mayor from West Java, attended the third Strategic Papua Analysis (APS) Conference 2026 in Jayapura, Papua, on Friday (29/05/2026).

During the conference, themed “Papua Development Innovation Based on Ethnoscience: A Comprehensive Analysis of Discourse, Actors, and the Future of Papua’s Development within the Framework of Local Wisdom,” Dedi Mulyadi spoke passionately about Papua’s natural resources. He also addressed social issues in Papua, focusing on the strengthening of economic and social development.

Rather than returning immediately to West Java, Dedi Mulyadi spent time touring various locations in the Jayapura region. A warm interaction developed between Dedi Mulyadi and the local Papuan residents, many of whom recognised him and approached him for photographs or handshakes.

While passing a beach in Jayapura, Dedi Mulyadi was distracted by children playing football. The former Regent of Purwakarta approached three Papuan children to ask if they enjoyed the sport. Upon seeing that their football was heavily worn out, he provided money to purchase a new one. “It hasn’t been replaced in a long time, how much does that ball cost?” he asked, before handing over three 100,000 Rupiah notes to ensure they could continue playing with better equipment.