Kudus – The roar of support for the eight teams participating in the 2026 Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup echoed through the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus. Amidst the excitement of the international women's football tournament, local youths from Kudus played a vital role, not as players, but as flag bearers and members of the centre circle flag crew.
Among them are Mualif Bagas Taufiq (22) and Hebron Jauza Munandar (20). Along with 25 other volunteers, they were tasked with carrying and unfurling the centre circle flag (CCF) on the pitch ahead of kick-off.
Mualif is a Computer and Network Engineering instructor at SMK Ma’arif Kudus, while Hebron is a fifth-semester student majoring in Sports Coaching at the State University of Semarang (UNNES).
The team deploys the centre circle flag approximately 10 minutes before every match. Despite being their first time in this specific role, their previous experience supporting football events in Kudus helped them navigate the duties with ease.
“I had no experience when I first joined the MilkLife Soccer Challenge, but over time I learned to adapt,” Mualif said prior to his duties at the Supersoccer Arena on Saturday (8/22/2026).
For Hebron, standing on the pitch during the match featuring the Indonesia U-16 women's national team, Garuda Pertiwi, was particularly moving, especially when the entire stadium stood for the national anthem, Indonesia Raya.
“There is a sense of pride and nerves when Indonesia plays, especially during the national anthem,” Hebron said.
Standing on the pitch with dozens of other youths, they were able to experience the international atmosphere up close. For them, it was an opportunity to be part of a major women's football event in their home city.
Other contributors included Riski Dwi Saputro and M. Alif Suryansyah, two students from Muria Kudus University (UMK) who served as official flag bearers for the competing teams.
Both are eighth-semester Agrotechnology students at the UMK Faculty of Agriculture. Despite the demands of their final theses, Riski and Alif made time to participate in the 2026 Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup.
Riski’s involvement began after a colleague, already part of the tournament’s operations team, invited him to join. He accepted the opportunity without hesitation.
“It was my first experience and a truly sacred moment; not everyone gets the chance to carry the flag, especially while facing the players and thousands of supporters,” Riski said.
A standout moment for him occurred during the opening match between the Indonesia U-16 women’s national team and Saudi Arabia, where the Garuda Pertiwi secured a decisive 7-0 victory.
For Alif, the most emotional experience came when he stood on the pitch with the Indonesian flag as the national anthem began to play.
“Honestly, I was both thrilled and moved. I felt a deep sense of pride to carry the Indonesian flag in an international tournament, especially as the entire stadium sang 'Indonesia Raya' together,” Alif said.
The stories of Mualif, Hebron, Riski, Alif, and dozens of other youths demonstrate that the Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026 provided more than just international football matches. The event, held from August 14–23, 2026, offered young people in Kudus the chance to participate directly, gain new experiences, and contribute to a major sporting event held in their own city. (DV/RND/mainkekudus)
