President Jokowi Launches Papua Football Academy
President Jokowi on Wednesday (08/31) officially launches the Papua Football Academy (PFA) at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura regency, Papua province.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday (08/31) officially launched the Papua Football Academy (PFA) at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura regency, Papua province.
The President said that many football talents come from Papua, including Rully Nere, Yohanes Auri, Aples Tecuari, Alexander Pulalo, Boaz Solossa, Elie Aiboy, Ramai Rumakiek, and Ricky Kambuaya.
“If you want to be the [football legend], the Papua Football Academy will help you to achieve that,” the President said.
The President also said that during the opening of the 2021 National Games (PON) in Papua, he had ordered gold and copper mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia to take measures on the development of Papua’s human resources, including in sports.
“I asked PT Freeport to make a commitment to the development of human resources in Papua, and I ordered [PT Freeport] to ensure that facilities used in the National Games can be well maintained, and to establish football academy in Papua. Today, we launch the Papua Football Academy,” he said.
The President went on to say that the Papua Football Academy will equip children with football training and qualified coaches.
“I hope the children at the Papua Football Academy will make good use of the opportunity to elevate their skills in football,” the President said.
The President expressed hope that the football training at the Academy will support young Papuan talents so that they can accomplish achievement at the national level, adding that qualified coaches and advanced training facilities will support the development of Papua’s future football players.
“The athletes at the Papua Football Academy will commence their training at the age of 12 and 13, before joining the U-14, U-16, and U-19 programs, and becoming the best football players at the national and the global levels. The training must start from the early age and the athletes must also complete their formal education,” the President said.
For the record, as for the first batch, 30 out of 477 children have been selected to join the Academy.
On that occasion, the President also underscored the Papua’s potential in other sports, ranging from athletics to rowing.
After President Jokowi’s remarks, the launching ceremony was followed by the beating of traditional music instrument tifa and the signing of the roadmap book by President Jokowi as a sign of the official launching. The President then played football with the athletes of Papua Football Academy. (FID/UN)(DND/UN) (RI/MUR)
