KUDUS – Spectators filling the stands at the Supersoccer Arena (SSA) in Kudus often focus only on the action during the match. The cheers, the goals, and the final whistle are what stay with them. Yet, long before the ball starts rolling, many people are working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs as it should.
When players are still resting, others have been working since the early hours. Likewise, when the match ends and the stadium begins to clear, their job is far from over. These behind-the-scenes staff are vital to the success of the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026, a tournament featuring 16 women's U-15 and U-18 teams from across Indonesia at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus from July 5–12, 2026.
While their roles are often invisible from the stands, behind every match is a complex process involving numerous hands—preparing player needs, maintaining athlete fitness, assisting team activities, and ensuring the competition schedule is met.
One such individual is Winarto.
As the kitman for Putri JP Jakarta U-18, Winarto’s day begins before most are awake. In soccer, a kitman is responsible for organizing, managing, and maintaining all equipment for players and coaches during both training and matches. His duties include setting up uniforms, cleats, and socks in the locker room, ensuring balls and training gear like cones and ladders are ready, and managing logistics such as water, towels, and personal items. Though rarely in the spotlight, this role is essential for seamless team operations.
For Winarto, the routine starts at 3 a.m. Along with three colleagues, he is already in the kitchen and equipment room, preparing for the team before the players even wake up.
"Our work starts very early—preparing breakfast, facilitating travel, and readying everything before the matches," Winarto said during a break on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
His responsibilities extend beyond equipment. Winarto also ensures the players' nutritional needs are met to maintain their physical condition throughout the competition.
Beyond managing laundry, training vests, and match gear, he must also be attentive to each player's individual preferences, ensuring that even with varying tastes, they receive the energy necessary for peak performance on the field.
"The challenge is, indeed, waking up early to prepare fruits and other nutritional needs so the athletes remain in peak condition to play. Moreover, the dynamics on the field are unpredictable. Sometimes, the children lose their appetite for the available menu. When that happens, we must be quick to prepare a special alternative for them. The important thing is that they keep eating and maintain their energy," she added with a smile.
While Winarto ensures equipment and logistics needs are met, Ayu Kurniawati is responsible for maintaining the players' physical condition. As the sports therapist for the Putri JP Jakarta U-18 team, she and Annisa Rahmawati accompany the athletes almost all day throughout the tournament. "We live together, so we are together every day. Usually, we start treatments to assist the children at 7 a.m.," Ayu explained.
The tight match schedule makes the recovery process a vital part of every competition day. Muscle soreness, bruising, and minor injuries are conditions they frequently manage so that players can return for the next match.
"The biggest challenge at this event is perhaps the large number of athletes, and every few minutes, there is always someone needing attention on the field. We have to work quite hard, especially with the high intensity of the matches," Ayu revealed.
Despite the heavy workload, Ayu continues to witness the unwavering spirit of the players.
"Honestly, these children are wonderful, and their fighting spirit is extraordinary. There was one moment that moved me, when their physical condition was actually not great, but they remained enthusiastic and pushed themselves to play. That level of ambition and determination deserves appreciation. For me, the presence of a recovery team like sports therapists is crucial to keeping their dreams alive on the field."
The participants' journey while in Kudus is also supported by Liaison Officers (LOs). Among them is Cindi Rantika Harlan, who acts as a bridge between the team and the committee while ensuring all operational needs of the participants are met. "As an LO, our working hours are from morning to night. We handle everything, from preparing the departure from the accommodation to returning home," said Cindi.
For her, assisting young athletes involves more than just ensuring the schedule runs smoothly; it also requires managing the players' communication and morale throughout the competition.
“The biggest challenge is that as a Liaison Officer, you are essentially responsible for 'parenting' these kids. We must skillfully regulate our own emotions to ensure we can support them and keep their morale high,” she said.
Although the activities span from morning until night, Cindi said she enjoys every part of the process.
“As for it being exhausting, to me, it isn't. We just enjoy it and keep it fun. The close bond with the athletes makes every moment memorable and touching. This job is vital because we act as the primary communication link between external parties and those on the field.”
According to Cindi, the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 provides a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills while advancing their journey in women’s soccer. “This tournament means so much to me. It is a golden opportunity for young female athletes to prove themselves and grow into the next generation of Indonesian women’s soccer.”
The smooth operation of the competition also relies on coordination managed by the tournament officials. This responsibility rests with General Coordinator, Rohmansyah Setiawan.
Long before the tournament began, he and his team were organizing match schedules, holding technical meetings, and conducting Match Coordination Meetings (MCM) with all team managers. Throughout the matches, coordination continues from morning until evening.
“During the competition, from the match side, we prepare everything from the kickoff to the final whistle. This involves assigning referees and handling other technical details, including monitoring the team's full activity from the locker room to the field. Because the tournament runs from morning to afternoon, we account for every second with great precision,” emphasized Rohmansyah.
For him, the work is rewarding because it stems from a genuine love for soccer.
“There are no real 'toughest challenges.' As operators, we genuinely enjoy these duties. Our main priority is the comfort of the competing teams and ensuring their needs are met seamlessly. Since most of us on the operations team share a passion for soccer, we perform these roles with pleasure.”
Having supported the development of women's football since 2023, Rohmansyah has witnessed the evolution of athletes firsthand over time.
“There have been some truly memorable moments. Seeing the growth of athletes who initially could not play at all, to eventually kicking the ball with proper technique. Some have even received call-ups to the national team. Our exhaustion is truly rewarded. We are quite happy and proud to see these players progress to their current level,” he said.
Ultimately, the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 presents more than just stories of matches and on-field rivalries. The tournament also highlights how a competition relies on the collective efforts of many individuals fulfilling their respective roles, even those working largely behind the scenes.
Every smoothly run match is the result of a series of tasks beginning in the early hours and continuing late into the night. This includes kit managers ensuring equipment and logistics are ready, sports therapists assisting with player recovery, liaison officers overseeing team activities, and match operators ensuring all schedules proceed as planned.
Through the support of Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation, the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 contributes to the development of youth women's football at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus. Behind every match presented, there is the dedication of many people helping to create space for young athletes to continue developing and moving to the next level. (JMY/HNR/DN/mainkekudus)