Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) kicked
off the ball, marking the opening of President Cup II 2017 national
soccer championship, at Maguwohardjo International Stadium in Sleman,
Yogyakarta, on Saturday.
The kicking of the ball from the center point of the field also
marks the start of the first match between the host team PSS Sleman of
Yogyakarta and Persipura Jayapura of the Indonesian eastern-most
province of Papua.
The president expressed hope that the national championship would
also result in the revival of national achievement in soccer.
"I hope this tournament could really be made use to revive national football," Jokowi stated.
He added that the term revival meant that the country could become a unifying factor oriented to achievement.
Before the inauguration, the president walked to the west side of
the stadium, flanked by the general chairman of the All Indonesia
Football Association (PSSI), Edy Rahmayadi, and chairmen of President
Cup Steering Committee Maruarar Sirait and Iwan Budianto, where he threw
a ball to the spectators.
A total of 20 soccer teams are participating in the President Cup II 2017, and they are divided into five groups.
Clubs in group 1 that will play in Maguwoharjo stadium, Sleman, are
PSS Sleman as the host, and Mitra Kukar, Persegres Gresik and Persipura
Jayapura.
Clubs in group 2 that will play in Kanjuruhan, Malang (East Java),
are Arema FC, Bhayangkara FC, Persija Jakarta and PS TNI.
Clubs in group 3 that will play in Jalak Harupat stadium, Bandung
(West Java), are Persib Bandung, PSM Makassar, Persiba Balikpapan and
Persela Lamongan.
Clubs in group 4 that will play in the Kapten I Wayan Dipta, Bali,
are Bali United, Sriwijaya FC, Pusamania Borneo and Barito Putra.
Clubs in group 5 that will play in the Gelora Bangkalan stadium,
Madura (East Java), are Madura United, Semen Padang, Perseru Serui and
PSCS Cilacap.
Earlier, Iwan Budianto, the organizing committee chairman of the
President Cup, said here on Tuesday (Jan 31) that the closing ceremony
of the soccer tournament will take place in the Pakansari stadium in
Cibinong, Bogor District, on Sunday (March 12).
Iwan further said that each host club will receive Rp800 million, which will be used to serve other soccer clubs.
"Additionally, each participating team will also receive
transportation allowance worth Rp100 million, except two teams from the
most-eastern province of Papua, namely Persipura and Perseru Serui,
which will receive more allowance due to the distant location.
Clubs that win the first prize will receive Rp3 billion. The second
prize will be Rp2 billion, the third prize will be Rp1 billion and the
fourth prize will be Rp500 million, he revealed.
In addition, the general chairman of the All-Indonesia Football
Association (PSSI) Edy Rahmayadi explained that his side needed Rp43
billion to organize the tournament.
The president, while opening the limited cabinet meeting on the
enhancement of the national soccer development in Jakarta on Tuesday
(Jan 24), explained four formulas on how to improve the system and
governance of national soccer.
"Firstly, I call for the implementation of soccer coaching at an
early age, hoping that our football team would head to the regional and
the world level if early childhood development is provided," Jokowi
stated.
He also expressed his desire to carry out coaching in schools at
different stages, to increase the number of soccer schools, as well as
to promote competition at an early age.
"Secondly, there should be total revamp in the governance system of
the national soccer team to become more competitive and qualified
through fair play," the head of state said.
Jokowi also revealed that good competition system will help nurture young players from various potential areas.
"I have received many reports from the General Chairman of the
All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), and we are optimistic that
we would develop constantly to improve the Indonesian football in
future," he disclosed.
Thirdly, the president focused on the management and building of
soccer clubs and directly sought inputs and heard demands from PSSI.
Fourthly, Jokowi pointed out the importance of preparing the soccer
stadium infrastructures to meet the requirement of the players.
"I have urged the Youth and Sports Affairs Minister to rehabilitate
and control the soccer fields in villages and maintain them as
community public spaces," the president remarked.
He also emphasized that the soccer fields should not be converted to other areas, especially for commercial purposes.
Jokowi also called for an increase in the number of soccer fields,
adding that the involvement of the state-owned enterprises (BUMN) is
needed to develop soccer fields in the country.
"We all see that soccer is a popular sport in the society, and it
can also unite the Indonesian people. Despite its vacuum in
international matches, due to sanction imposed by FIFA, the achievement
of the national team "Garuda" in the final AFF Cup 2016 (as runner-up)
has become a momentum for the rise of our national soccer," he said,
asserting that the government will continue to give attention to
accelerate the development of national soccer. (WDY)
Jokowi Kicks off Ball Marking Start of President Cup 2017
Pewarta : Reported by Bustanuddin 5 Februari 2017 10:16 WIB