The Fun Football FEB UGM community is well known to football enthusiasts within the FEB UGM environment. More than just playing football, this community serves as a gathering place for football enthusiasts from FEB UGM and the broader UGM academic community. It’s more than just a sport – it’s a home for those who see football as a form of self-expression and a place to nurture campus talent.
Fun Football FEB UGM was founded in 2015 as a continuation of a former futsal group. The community grew from wanting to revive and sustain futsal activities after inactivity.
“At that time, futsal went dormant after its golden era, so we moved on to playing on a larger field. From there, Fun Football was born,” recalls Tyas Cahyono, a FEB UGM professional and one of the community’s key drivers.
Interestingly, Fun Football FEB UGM is anything but exclusive. It welcomes everyone – from students and faculty to professional staff and educational personnel throughout UGM. “Through football, we can express ourselves. It becomes a medium to channel skills, especially for those passionate about the sport,” Tyas added.
Still, the journey hasn’t always been smooth. A lack of facilities remains a classic challenge for the community. They rely on the only soccer field available in UGM: the Pancasila Stadium. Not surprisingly, many community members hope that FEB UGM will one day have its field to support more regular and structured activities.
“There is only one stadium at UGM, so we have to compete for access. We’re grateful just to be able to train twice a month,” Tyas said.
Despite the limitations, the spirit among the young players remains strong. The community has become a place to nurture new talent. One such example is Ahid Faiqul, a management student who now regularly competes in various tournaments.
“I first got interested after watching my seniors play soccer. Now I’m hooked,” he said.
Playing as a winger, Ahid has participated in several tournaments, including Porsenigama – the UGM-wide sports competition. He even played for the PSIM U-17 team and helped them win the runner-up title in the 2022 Serafim Cup.
Beyond sports and competition, Fun Football fosters social connections within the academic community. Rahmad Khaidar, a professional staff member who joined in mid-2022, felt the benefits personally.
“I’ve met a lot of staff from other units, faculty, and students. It’s a great stress reliever and a source of fun when work gets hectic,” he said.
Even after an injury that required physiotherapy, Rahmad’s enthusiasm didn’t wane. For him, football at FEB UGM is more than just a sport.
“This place connects generations – from students and active faculty to those who have retired.”
The community hopes to continue its activities, grow, and become even more inclusive. With greater institutional support and broader participation, Fun Football FEB UGM aims to be a place where all elements of the campus can meet, move, and grow together.
Report by: Orie Priscylla Mapeda Lumalan
Editro: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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