March 2022 marked the number of football matches in Jayapura. There were plenty of division clubs and junior ones in the field. One of the local football matches that was going on in West Papua was Waena Cup. Waena Cup is a football match for division clubs. There was also a top-scoring league for clubs consisting of U-14 and U16 players.
Jack Komboy, one of the former football players for Persipura (Persatuan Sepak Bola Jayapura), stated that a talent pool of young players must be well-prepared now. Regeneration is important, especially since West Papuan athletes are important to keep events like Waena Cup and other sports events going.
About Jack Komboy
Who is Jack Komboy? This former footballer from West Papua was born on April 18, 1977. His full name is Kamasan Jakob Komboy. With the slightly towering, 180-cm frame, Jack was well-known as a defender. His football career began as a young player for PS.Cendrawasih in 1998.
Jack first moved to Persipura and built his football career there from 1999 to 2003. Then, he moved to another club, PSM Makassar, and stayed there from 2003 to 2004. Jack had scored two goals while playing with PSM Makassar. After that, he returned to his old team, Persipura, and had remained there from 2004 to 2010.
Jack Komboy On Waena Cup and Other Football Matches In West Papua
According to Jack, the potential young players can only be seen since their training days under SSB (Sekolah Sepak Bola – school for football players). The way these young players carry themselves, from their individual techniques to how they cooperate with their teammates, are already visible.
“Besides for national benefits, these young players can hone their skills along the way,” Jack stated. The more these players practice their football skills on the field, the more they gain experiences. These experiences will later prepare them for bigger events as they grow up.
Jack also said that these young West Papuan athletes would make nice additions to future national sports events, like PON (Pekan Olahraga Nasional – Sports National Week) and other similar events, for example. They can also do wonders for bigger sports events, like ASEAN Games and SEA Games.
These days, national football, including in West Papua, is still heavily dominated by veteran players on the field. In two or three years from now, Jack predicted that fresh talents would be very much needed. Not only in the region, these young bloods can also be used for professional teams outside Papua.
The Importance of Preparing Young West Papuan Athletes
“We have had these experiences as veteran players in football,” Jack stated on behalf of all players in his generation. “Aside from what the team needs, it is important for all of us to support our children’s dreams – in this case, in terms of sports.”
Of course, Jack Komboy is not the only one agreeing to this. Agus Fere, another former footballer for Persidadon and a manager for SSB Immanuel Sentani, has agreed that he and some of the other veteran players are in for this responsibility.
According to Agus, he and the rest of the willing veteran footballers are responsible for preparing the next young West Papuan athletes to fill their spaces behind. There are many young boys with dreams of becoming professional football players. They have the willingness and potential to make their dreams come true. Agus believes that it is his duty and the duty of the senior players to help the young ones with their similar dreams.
“It is up to the athletes later on, whether they want to stay and play for the local teams in West Papua or any other teams in Indonesia,” said Agus. “What’s important is that we prepare them first. Help them to shape their skills on the field.”
