Strange Soccer: Indonesian Kids Kick Around A Flaming Coconut

Soccer or Football as it is known in some cultures is a sport that is loved in all corners of the globe. It is particularly popular with youngsters who like nothing more than to kick a football around. When we were growing up, there were all sorts of variations to the professional game that we watched on our television screens or in the stadiums. Sometimes kids who couldn’t get their hands on a proper football would improvise – using a different item to kick about instead.

But of all the variations, bastardizations and improvisations I have seen (and there are plenty – because I grew up playing football) this video clip of some Indonesian kids kicking around a flaming coconut has got to be the strangest.

The version of the game is called “Flaming Fireball” and the youngsters play it barefoot!!! At this particular boarding school a coconut is lit and then booted around to celebrate the children’s birthdays. Weird…Happy Birthday mate, here have a burnt foot!
Apparently they use a mixture of herbs, salt and prayers to stop the children from getting burnt whilst playing with the sizzling soccer ball. One boy says describes it as “different” to playing with a normal ball, I found it difficult to resist the urge of yelling “no shit Sherlock” at the computer screen!!

Maybe they got the idea for the “Flaming Fireball” game after watching the Nike advert where Eric Cantona, Paulo Maldini, Ian Wright, Ronaldo and company come up against a demonic football team. Cantona of course secures victory for the humans by shooting a flaming football that explodes through the chest of the devilish goalkeeper! Best damn football advert I’ve ever seen!!