TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bali United recently attracted attention not only for their ability to defeat larger teams but for a unique post-win celebration that went viral.
Three of the team's players celebrated their win by instinctively lining up beside each other and assuming the Muslim, Christian, and Hindu prayer positions.
The three Bali United players were the Hindu defender Ngurah Nanak, Christian winger Yabes Roni, and Muslim striker Miftahul Hamdi.
The image showing this exact moment immediately went viral. Many people suggested that it is promoting a beautiful statement about multiculturalism and tolerance in the midst of Indonesia’s heated political climate.
The image emerged in a critical moment in Indonesia’s history, following a political Islamic faction that showed a less-tolerant stance in the past few months which almost became a real threat towards the moderate and secular Indonesian Government.
Bali United themselves stated that difference is not a barrier for people to reach a goal.
WASHINGTONPOST | FEBRIYAN