Indonesia’s Contribution to the Stadium in Qatar

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

Two people visited the Al Bayt Stadium area, Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday (11-16-2022). Al Bayt Stadium will be the venue for the opening match of the 2022 World Cup between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

DOHA, KOMPAS – Two gardeners sweep fallen leaves littered across the green grass of Bayt Stadium Park in Al Khor city, Qatar on Wednesday (16/11/2022) afternoon local time. Gardeners are also seen praying on the thick green grass.

The green atmosphere in the Al Khor area was unimaginable a decade ago. Before the construction of the stadium began in 2016, the area planned for the 40-hectare stadium was nothing but desert.

However, the unthinkable was overcome by Saprudin Bastomi (46), an Indonesian diaspora who transformed the Al Khor area into a green garden. In 2016, Saprudin worked as a project manager for the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) garden projects.

When SC, an institution formed by the Qatari government to prepare for the 2022 World Cup, was about to begin building a stadium, Saprudin was involved.

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To fulfill the needs of the World Cup stadium, Saprudin was responsible for the process of planting, producing and maintaining around 16,000 trees and 679,000 shrubs. He is also responsible for the 425,000 square meters of grass planted in the 63-hectare Supreme Committee Tree Nursery area.

“Al Bayt Stadium was the most difficult because it used to only be a desert and has the widest landscape. I am responsible for planting grass in the stadium as well as growing gardens around the stadium. In 2019, the entire Al Bayt area had turned green,” said Saprudin to Kompas on Thursday (17/11) in Doha.

However, Saprudin’s role does not end at Al Bayt. The Gadjah Mada University (UGM) graduate also worked on the installation of grass for the Al Janoub Stadium, the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, the Education City Stadium, the Al Thumama Stadium, the 974 Stadium and the Lusail Stadium.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

Outside area of Al-Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday (11-16-2022). Al-Byat Stadium will be the venue for the opening match of the 2022 World Cup between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

Raising standards

Heriadi Joewono (53), also an Indonesian diaspora, was specifically involved in the initial planning process for the construction of the Education City Stadium in the city of Doha. Heriadi was one of the ASTAD project engineers on the Education City Stadium design management team and worked from 2011 to 2014.

Heriadi’s main role was to redesign the functions and facilities of the Education City Stadium and raise it to World Cup standards.

Significant changes analyzed by Heriadi and the team included increasing the capacity of the stadium from 20,000 to 40,000 spectators. They also designed the sustainability of the stadium once the World Cup ends.

Compared to Western [countries’] diaspora, our quality is not inferior.

“After the World Cup, we will return the original stadium plan to university campus needs. So, for example, the capacity will be returned to 20,000 because it is more feasible and won’t require high maintenance costs,” said the architect who graduated from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar Ridwan Hassan said the Indonesian diaspora has played a role in Qatar’s development projects for 25 years. He said the involvement of the Indonesian diaspora in the construction of the 2022 World Cup stadium showed the diversity of expertise of the Indonesian diaspora, not just in the oil and gas sector.

“Compared to Western [countries’] diaspora, our quality is not inferior. Our diaspora has also proven to have special capabilities that are very much required for the development of Qatar,” said Ridwan.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.