Shilpi’s STORY: TEAM INDONESIA
Shilpi Yanti lives in the Jatayu area, Bandung, the city where she was born and raised.
Shilpi's neighborhood is a densely populated area. The houses are simple with a land area of no more than 30 square meters. The boundary between the houses is just a wall.
Access roads are only about two meters wide. Each house does not have a yard. In that area, there is no open space that allows people to do activities such as sports.
Shilpi lives with her parents and three younger siblings. To fulfill their daily needs, and as the eldest of four siblings she has been selling sports hijabs since 2019.
How did you get involved with the player selection programME for HWC Sacramento?
I participated in the HWC Sacramento player selection program by Rumah Cemara. From the selection results, I was selected to be the goalkeeper in the Indonesian national team for HWC Sacramento.
What have you done since joining the HWC Sacramento team?
I and other players participated in the training program three times a week made by the HWC team coach. In this training program, I learned the techniques, strategies, and rules of street football, especially the rules we will play at the Sacramento 2023 Homeless World Cup.
To keep me fit, every weekend I try to do my exercise. I'm also learning English so I can communicate with people from all over the world in Sacramento.
What is your relationship with football?
I have played football since I was 4 years old. I play football in the alleys around the house with my friends. My father often took me to watch football matches.
In 2016 I joined a women futsal club in Bandung called DKRC (Dalem Kaum Rumah Cemara). When I first joined, my position was in attack. But because nobody wanted to be a goalkeeper, a friend asked me to fill the position. At first, I found it awkward, but I got used to it. The adaptation process didn't take long because I also like to play basketball.
How do you feel about representing your country?
Happy and proud. I feel amazed to represent Indonesia in an international footballl tournament. It’s beyond my wildest dreams.
How has life changed since becoming part of the programME?
The most noticeable change to date is that the body has become fitter, and football techniques, especially goalkeeping techniques, have improved. I have also come to know about street football rules, especially for the Homeless World Cup. More importantly, I became more aware of social issues. The Homeless World Cup is not just football, but there are social issues involved with everyone who takes part.
What message would you give to someone who was in your position before?
This message is for women who wear hijabs like me. Don't make what you wear an obstacle to achieving and becoming a champion, especially in football. There is always room for women wearing hijabs to compete in the world of football. Don't be insecure because of the hijab, don't be insecure because we are women, even though football is synonymous with masculine sports.
What is your next big step to move forward in your life?
In March 2023, I formed the Komunitas Sepak Bola Anak Gang (Alley Football Community). The members are boys under 12 who live near my house. There are 30 children in total. They come from poor families. There is no fee to become a member and there is no monthly fee. At the moment the coach is me and my father.
The children in this community are not only trained in football but are given simple knowledge about HIV, narcotics, and the dangers of smoking at an early age.
In the future, I want to develop this community so that its members can excel in football. I will also invite girls to become members of the community. The obstacle is that many parents still do not allow their daughters to play football. However, I will continue to approach and communicate with them. I would like parents to have an open mind about football. Everyone can play it, boys and girls.
Apart from that, I also want to develop the hijab business that I am currently working on. The hope is that some of the profits can be used to fund the activities of the Komunitas Sepak Bola Anak Gang.
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