President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged the new management board of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) to devise blueprints for the short, medium, and long terms to improve Indonesia’s football achievements.
The President made the statement while receiving PSSI board members at Merdeka Palace, chairperson of the association and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Erick Thohir, told journalists at a press conference at the palace here on Monday.
Thohir, who was selected as the new PSSI chairperson on February 16, 2023, said that the association is committed to devising the national soccer blueprints without delay.
“These blueprints must be completed immediately and God willing, we will prove that with this new management (board), we can strive to optimize (the development of) football in Indonesia,” he remarked.
Cooperation among the PSSI, the Indonesian government, and the International Federation of the Football Association (FIFA) is also important for soccer development in Indonesia, he said.
“We hope that the collaborations between these three parties will continue to transform Indonesian football on the right track,” he added.
Earlier, first deputy chairperson of the PSSI, Zainudin Amali, who was also selected to the post on February 16, informed that President Widodo had invited the newly elected chairperson, deputy chairpersons, and members of the executive committee (Exco) of the PSSI to Merdeka Palace.
Amali, who is also the Youth and Sports Minister, said that the PSSI management board will make their report to the President regarding the implementation of PSSI’s extraordinary congress (KLB) on February 16.
Regarding calls from several parties, asking him to resign from his position as minister, Amali said that he will wait for further directives from the President.
“I should report it (to President Widodo) first, since I am the President’s aide. I should not decide on my own even if I have the will,” he added.
Ethically, he is required to first discuss the matter with the President and wait for further directives from him.
Thohir was selected as PSSI chairperson during an extraordinary congress after securing 64 votes. His closest contender, LaNyalla Mattalitti, won 22 votes.
Meanwhile, Amali and Ratu Tisha were elected as the first deputy chairperson and the second chairperson of the PSSI, respectively.
Source: Antara News