This is sure to fire up the Beautiful game,Flaming Coconut footbaal which is played in many Islamic boarding Schools across East Java.
These players prepare for these football matches for 21 days, which includes praying and fasting and learning to tame fire.
When they are ready, the tough 60 minutes of football begins played in bare feet with a burning coconut, which has been soaked in kerosene for two days, and up to four blazing coconuts are used in the game.
According to match organiser Ali Akhyar, the game is intended to test spiritual strength and psychological toughness. “We make a fireball to test the guts of the students,” he adds.
