Saudi Gazette
Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:04 CDT
Jakarta, Indonesia - Any goal in this match is bound to be a scorcher.
Because these boys play a harder version of the beautiful game with a ball of flames instead of a plastic version, according to an article featured on MirrorOnline, a social media networking website.
The bizarre sport is popular in boarding schools across East Java, Indonesia. Coconuts are soaked in flammable liquid for two days before being ignited and kicked about by bare-footed players for 60 minutes.
Some boys at the game in Kediri prayed not to get burnt before heading to the pitch. Match organizer Ali Akhyar said: "We make a fireball to test the guts of the students."
Maybe just sensationalism, judging from the source of the video.
But it seems these boys are being prepared for something that might normally be difficult for them to confront.
We have hazing and various other rituals in the West that are similar.