TV owners share World Cup joy

TV owners share World Cup joy

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Soccer is the world's most favorite sport and attracts fans from
all walks of life. The ongoing World Cup in Korea and Japan can
be enjoyed by everyone, including the poor.

Although poor people have no television sets, they can always
find ways to watch soccer games, whether in their neighbor's
house or at nearby foodstalls.

Wardjo, a 56-year-old becak (pedicab) driver who lives in a
boarding house in Tangerang, said that despite having no TV set,
he never missed any of the World Cup matches.

"My housemate has no TV set. Luckily, Pak Sawal, our neighbor,
is a soccer fan and he is always happy to have company when
watching World Cup matches in his house. So his door
is always open for at least 10 poor neighbors," said Wardjo, who
has been a pedicab driver for the last nine years and earns about
Rp 10,000 (US$1.15) per day.

But the father of four from Pemalang, Central Java, said that
during the day when he is looking for passengers he can often
find foodstalls nearby which have a television.

The avid supporter of the Italian team, whose wife is a
vegetable vendor at the traditional market in Bukit Duri
subdistrict, South Jakarta, said that since pedicabs were
banned in Jakarta, he had to work in Tangerang, where
pedicabs are free. He visits his wife and four children in
Bukit Duri twice a week.

"I like the Italian team because they are always exciting to
watch. I hope the team will reach the final," he added.

Kalim, a 40-year-old former leprosy patient of Tangerang
Sitanala Lepers Hospital, who earns a living begging on the
street, always carries with him soccer match schedules.

From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. everyday, Kalim, who supports the
Argentinean team, sits with crossed legs, begging, braving the
heat at Jl. TMP-Taruna-Jl. Veteran intersection, about 100 meters
from Tangerang Women's Penitentiary.

Despite not having a TV set, he never missed a world soccer
match and could name many players taking part in the World Cup.

"When a soccer game is aired on TV at midday or in the
afternoon, I usually crawl to the nearest foodstall, which has a
television," said Kalim, whose both legs have been amputated due
to leprosy.

Kalim said that if he was home, he would watch games at his
neighbor's house. "Normal people are likely to close their doors
for people like me, but luckily my neighbor is also an ex-leprosy
patient and he has a television," he said.

Separately, 50-year-old Slamet, a garbageman who lives in
Gelam Jaya subdistrict of Pasar Kemis district said that
he always watched soccer games at his neighbors' homes
and expected his favorite team, England, to reach the final.

"I like soccer very much, so I won't miss any game aired on
TV, even though I don't have a television set," he said.

The father of five always goes to his neighbor's house to
watch World Cup matches. Luckily, his neighbor Lutfi is very kind
and has allowed him, along with several other poor neighbors, to
pack his small house when matches are aired.

Slamet, who has to walk every morning from house to house
in the Villa Tangerang Regency II housing complex to
collect household garbage and take it to the dump, said he could
not afford to buy a TV set because he only earns Rp 150,000 a
month from his job.