Sepak Tekong
Sepak Tekong, an Indonesian traditional game
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| Years active | 1960s-present |
| Players | 3-10 |
| Skill(s) required | Shooting, running, hiding, seeking |
Sepak tekong is one of the traditional games from Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The phrase sepak tekong comes from Minangkabau language, it consists of two words which each of them carries their own meaning. The word "Sepak” means “Menendang” or “Menyepak” in Indonesian or equivalent with the word “Kick” in English, meanwhile the word “Tekong” means “Kaleng” in Indonesian or equivalent with the word “Can” in English, so sepak tekong means “Menendang kaleng” or “Kick the can”. Sepak tekong is a kind of game which is similar to hide and seek, what makes them different is just on the rules and how they are played. In addition, this games is usually played by children aged seven till eight years old in the village, exactly in the place where provides many places to hide. The game is usually done for enjoyment, it needs at least three participants or more, because the more the participant, the more fun and fascinate the game will be. The game is started by drawn a circle with diameter a half meter in the middle of a yard, then put a can in the center of it. If the children cannot find a can, they may replace it with coconut shell or another thing that can produce a sound and does not move or fly while the wind is blowing. Furthermore, although sepak tekong is a game from West Sumatra but it is played in many regions around Indonesia.
Sepak tekong originally came from West Sumatra, but this game had spread to other areas, such as Java. It was widely played in 1960 to 1990, yet in the 2000s it was still popular among kids who live in the villages. The strategy of this game is similar to guerrilla warfare which is used in Indonesian War of Independence.
Sepak Tekong is the game usually played by boys about 7 years old and above, and the ideal number in this game is between 3 until 10 people. It is played in the house yard that has many places to hide. The equipment that is needed in this game is a coconut shell or small milk cans filled with sand. The aim of using that kind of thing is to make a sound when it is kicked. After kicking the can, the players must shout “Tekong”, then the children will hide. Before the game starts, the first player sets the best place to set the can and the boundaries to hide. The next step is making a lottery in a way of “Hompimpa” and after two of the players left, they must do such a suit.
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