For over thirty years, the April long weekend has seen people from across Asia coming together to enjoy football, fun and friendship in a competition known as the FLS Viking Cup.
This year, from 17-19 April, the Jakarta Vikings will host the 33rd Viking Cup at Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, bringing together over 300 players representing nine clubs from six countries.
History of the Viking Cup
The Viking Cup started in the late 1980s as a friendly competition between expats in Singapore and Bangkok. It has now grown to include teams from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. This year, the Jakarta Vikings will be hosting the Viking Cup for the fifth time.
The eleven-a-side open Jakarta Vikings team will be looking to emulate their victory at Bung Karno Stadium in 1991 and dethrone last year’s winners from Singapore.
Ten teams will be competing for the 40+ Masters, six-a-side competition. And this year will see, for the first time, the introduction of a 50+ six-a-side competition with five teams competing.
The Viking Cup though is more than just the football. The annual golf competition will be held on Thursday at Cengkareng Golf Club. Padel makes its debut this year. And there are a wide range of social activities planned for players and spectators.
The Viking Cup is about building friendships across the region, with football bringing old friends together year after year and forging new friendships.
“This will be my 17th Viking Cup. I left Asia 12 years ago to move back to Denmark, but still I come back every year to catch up with fellow Vikings. I really enjoy the club motto of Football, Fun & Friendship,” says Michael Ullerup Petersen who will be travelling from Copenhagen to join the festivities this year.
This year, title sponsors, FLS Projects, and the Viking clubs are teaming up in the name of charity. The closing gala party will see an inaugural charity auction for the ISCO foundation. ISCO support children who live in poverty to receive an education and reach their full potential.
The Jakarta Vikings
It’s the first time since 2012 that Jakarta has hosted the Viking Cup and the Jakarta Vikings can’t wait to welcome the other clubs.
“This is a big event. To date we have over 300 people flying in to join the Cup. 375 people including the Jakarta Viking. We have some fantastic sponsors. We will put on a great show and people will leave with Jakarta in their memories for a long time,” says Jakarta Vikings President, Jesper Brandborg.
As a football club, the Jakarta Vikings now has players representing 23 countries from across the globe. The Viking Cup presents an opportunity to showcase this diversity, camaraderie and love for the game. The club continues to welcome new players at any level. If you share a love for football and want to make new friends, the Jakarta Vikings are ready to welcome you.