Dare we dream that one day a woman from an Indonesian background will play for the Matildas?

What are the real barriers that hold back girls and women from the Indonesian community in Australia from playing soccer? Source: Courtesy Dr Nasya Bafen

On 21 January the Indonesian national women’s football team (Garuda Pertiwi) will play the Australian women’s team (Matildas) in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Interest is high in both countries. But has it inspired Indonesian girls and women in Australia to play soccer?

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Dr Nasya Bahfen is a senior lecturer in media and communications at La Trobe University.  She also is an Indonesian Moslem woman who played for the Maribyrnong Swifts women’s soccer team.  Willy Intan was a member of the now defunct Melbourne Indonesian Students Soccer.  With Sri Dean they discuss why there seem to be so few Indonesian women in Australia who play soccer.

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What are the real barriers that hold back girls and women from the Indonesian community in Australia from playing soccer? Source: Courtesy Dr Nasya Bafen