Coach Val and Ms Maya – The Ball’s Jakarta Managers
Coach Val Arnhold Raharja loves football. He lives and breathes it. Recently, coach Val quit his job in the Indonesian energy industry and decided to take a chance and follow his dream to become a professional football coach and analyst. He booked a place on the other side of the world in the UEFA B License coaches training in Bad Blankenburg, Germany. It was there he met Spirit of Football’s Argentinian football expert Joaquin Nanez. Joaquin is equally football-mad. He recently spent a fortune to follow Argentina to World Cup glory, live in stadiums at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Joaquin told Coach Val about The Ball – football’s Olympic Torch – and that it was coming to Indonesia.
Coach Val of course was the first person there waiting for The Ball to arrive in Indonesia. He was the first Indonesian to sign it. He became Spirit’s Ambassador to Jakarta and the Indonesia football community. Thanks to Coach Val, The Ball met the legendary Indonesian coach Yopi and the Under-20 Indonesian Women’s National Team. Coach Val was also The Ball Team’s chaperone: picking us up here, dropping us off there; helping us get a sim card; suggesting places to eat; organising meetings with everyone from famous coaches to respected personalities in the street football scene and the women’s game and joining for kickabouts at the Bundesliga’s Common Ground community pitch and with students at the University of Indonesia.
Coach Val’s life is football. Football is his language. Football is his passion. Good luck reaching your football dreams Coach Val and thanks for taking care of The Ball and its team. The Ball is with you.
Ms Maya, Val’s close friend, also accompanied us to many activties and supported us by taking photos and videos and creating social media videos of our activities. Her son Cedric also joined us for our mixed fairplay friendly at the Bundesliga Common Ground in Jakarta. Thank you for showing us such a great time in Jakarta! Terima kasih and see you soon!
