My team-mate and friend, Ramdani Lestaluhu, who is a board member of the Indonesian professional footballers association (APPI), said that the union could help me. He said that we needed to fight racism in Indonesia because this was not only about me – too many African players receive racist abuse. We contacted APPI as we wanted to change the situation.
I like the approach by the union to have conversations with these people, to give them the opportunity to apologise. I can talk to these people and explain to them not to make racist remarks again. I want them to learn, to understand that it is not good to say these words.
The first meeting was in Jakarta when we were playing an away game there. The person was very scared. When I shook his hand, he was trembling. I was there with a delegation of the union, including Ramdani. We assured the fan that we were not going to call the police, but that we wanted him to apologise and never say these things again.
Education is a good thing. In the meetings, they have said: “Privat, sorry that I said this”. For me, that was not enough – they also had to promise me they would never say it again, to prevent that other people or other kids say it too.
It is not good for football and we also cannot accept it in life. You cannot judge people by the colour of their skin. We are all the same.
I asked them a couple of questions: Will you die one day? They replied yes. I said that I will die too. If you cut your hand, is your blood red or blue? Red, they answered. Mine too, I said.
You see, we are the same. Only the colour of our skin is a bit different. So don’t call me black, negro, or monkey. And you cannot say that you will kill me. They got the message. I think they will never do it again. But if they do, then they cannot apologise anymore.
