The ongoing World Cup in
Germany doesn't just offer interesting matches and soccer stars showing off
their skills. Many people, even non-fans, enjoy collecting merchandise related
to the quadrennial event.
Some of those collectors live in Jakarta. For proof, just take a look at the
stores in Pasar Pagi (the Morning Market) on Jl. Asemka, West Jakarta.
Piles of tiny soccer-hero dolls -- England skipper David Beckham, Brazil's
Ronaldo and Ronaldinho and the Netherlands' Ruud van Nistelrooy, just to name a
few -- are scattered throughout shops in the market, which was recently
rebaptized as the China Trade Center.
Posters of global soccer stars and the World Cup's 32 competing teams are
available. Stickers, ballpoint pens capped with soccer balls and even
soccer-themed cellular phone accessories abound.
The prices are quite low. You can buy a dozen soccer-related key chains and
cellular phone accessories for only 20,000 rupiahs (about 2.10 U.S. dollars)
while a set of miniature statues of top soccer players is just 90,000 rupiahs
(about 10 U.S. dollars).
But you can't buy just one box.
"You have to buy at least three sets," said a vendor at one of the shops,
pointing to sets of six statuettes standing on the front display shelf.
Most of these World Cup souvenirs have just arrived from the importers'
warehouses.
"These items are the most recent," Ronald, a shop owner at the market, was
quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.
The market was built in the 17th century by Dutch colonials and was
historically known for both its retail and wholesale shops.
When the more modern Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua opened on September 18, 1989, most
vendors in the old overcrowded market relocated. Though it has been forgotten to
a certain extent, shop owners are still lured to the old market by its cheaper
prices. Wholesalers here hope the month of soccer hype will give their sales a
boost.
The items sold at the Asemka market are different from the ones peddled by
the international soccer body FIFA at its online store fifaworldcup.esdlife.com.
The online store offers participating teams' jerseys, caps, balls, key chains
and mascot dolls. The mascots are available at several hypermarkets here at a
price of about 250,000 rupiahs, slightly more expensive than the online store
price of 21.65 U.S. dollars.
