•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   

Mohamed Junior Coker’s love of football has taken him from his native Sierra Leone to packed stadiums around the world. The former Persekabpas player has tested his skills against the world’s best in Africa, the Middle East and now Southeast Asia.

The 26-year-old tells us what he and Zidane have in common, why he thinks Indonesia is loaded with undiscovered talent and why the flavors of Jakarta are ‘so Freetown.’

Tell us about your football experience?

I’ve loved football since I was a young boy and I have always been good at it. This is me just using the talent God has blessed me with. Growing up in Sierra Leone, you envision yourself playing for top clubs in Europe, but you find yourself in the vibrant scene that is Indonesian football.

What are your thoughts on Indonesian football?

The thing that struck me about football here was the support from fans. They must be some of the most fanatic football fans I’ve ever experienced, and they love and cherish every player. Fans are a big part of football; they are the twelfth man.

You’ve played in both Singapore and Indonesia. Tell us about some of the differences between football in the two countries.

Actually, I really enjoyed Singapore because football there is more tactical, and as a result it’s also a more technical game they play. In Indonesia, football is very physical, yet skilful too. I played different roles in both countries as well, which was good because it helped me grow as a footballer. The thing I enjoy most in both countries is that the team plays for each other, not as individuals. This is always crucial for any club and player.

You used to play for a well-known team here in the city, but not anymore. Care to tell us why?

Let’s just say I’m nursing a knee injury.

In terms of your style of play, which player do you compare yourself to?

I compare myself to [Zinedine] Zidane simply because we’re both skillful and we have very good ball control. That’s it.

Is there one particular club you want to play for?

Juventus in Italy.

Africa is the birthplace of many talented individuals who ply their trade in top leagues all over the world. Why is this a hard thing for Indonesians or Asians in general to do?

I think maybe it’s because of the environment and the situation. For example, in Africa we look forward to leaving our countries and making better lives for ourselves and our families. Meanwhile in Asia, it’s a more comfortable life and a lot of the athletes I know want to stay in that comfort zone. We Africans want to test our skills against the best.

Why exactly is football known as the ‘beautiful game’?

Football is a game where the rich and the poor come together. It’s very much a catalyst for unity and I’m sure you would agree that unity is a beautiful thing.

Where can we find you when you’re not on the pitch?

Oh, I’m usually at home relaxing. I just have my friends come over for a good time. I’m usually in church on Sunday mornings.

Tell us about your faith?

My faith is a big part of who I am and it has helped me through the difficult phases and places. I’m thankful for the talent God has blessed me with, and using this talent and also exercising my faith is how I say thanks to the Father.

What kinds of things do you enjoy besides football?

I really enjoy visiting the homeless and the handicapped people here in Jakarta. I love to listen to their stories and see their fighting spirit. It reminds me to be thankful, and it’s good to give back to the less fortunate.

Can you explain more about your involvement with the homeless and the disabled?

Homeless people get together just behind the Skyline building in Sarinah and we kind of run a church service for them and we teach them English. It’s just a lot of fun and a blessing to see them come out and get refreshed and learn something new every week. For the handicapped, we drive out of Jakarta to Tangerang and we work with a leper community. It’s definitely life-changing when you hear their stories and are able to encourage them. Also, it gives you a chance to look at your life and realize that you have a lot to be thankful about. Attitude of gratitude is the name of the game [laughs].

Has it been easy to settle here?

Settling in has been easy. I’ve been here for a while so I’m used to things now. Jakarta doesn’t remind me of home because this city is huge, and Freetown on the other hand is small. I think the population in Jakarta is bigger than the population of the whole of Sierra Leone. It’s gila . The food reminds of home, though. The flavors and aromas are so Freetown.

Tell me about the people in Jakarta.

People in Jakarta are really friendly and they love foreigners. That helped me a lot when I was first settling in.

Junior, some final thoughts about football in Indonesia. Do Indonesian footballers have potential?

Yes, absolutely, it’s just the mind-set that needs to change. As the locals are exposed to other nations and footballers, they will become world-class players given the chance. With the amount of people in this country, I’m sure there is a lot of undiscovered talent out there. But we need to make sure that we identify them because they will be the generation that brings pride to Indonesian football.