Thamrin is very instrumental in the development of football in Jakarta. He was the one who helped Persija (Jakarta’s football club) – then known as Voetbalbond Indonesische Jacatra (VIJ), to have their own field.
As a football enthusiast, Thamrin also urged the Dutch government to pay attention to football, which at that time was only enjoyed by the Dutch elites. Indigenous football clubs were not allowed to play in European football leagues.
Thamrin joined VIJ’s board of patrons (beschermer). He then connected VIJ with other national movement figures such as Otto Iskandardinata, nicknamed Si Jalak Harupat. Otto was Thamrin’s friend in the Volksraad. He was also a football enthusiast and the chairman of Paguyuban Pasundan, a national movement organization. He often lent out the association’s building to be used for VIJ board meetings.
To remember his contribution, Otto’s nickname is now used as the name of a stadium in West Java, home of Persib Bandung.