Open the Presidents Cup, President Jokowi Hope the National Football Passion Appears Again

President Jokowi ran after kick off the Presidents Cup football tournament, in Gianyar, Bali, on Sunday (30/8)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asserted that his presence at the opening of the Independence Cup football tournament some time ago and the Presidents Cup on Sunday (30/8) is to awaken and revive the competition.

“So we’ll expect with the passing of the competition, both in the Presidents Cup and the Independence Cup, there will be no more age under 17 years (U-17) and under 15 years (U-15), will bring up again the passion of football,” said President Jokowi told reporters after inaugurating the opening of the the Presidents Cup football tournament in 2015, at the stadium Captain Wayan Dipta in Gianyar, Bali, on Sunday (30/8) afternoon.

Reform of football in total, for how long the target? “As soon as possible, correction, then our reform. The sooner the better. It takes time, later the target I will give to the minister,” President Jokowi said.

According to the President Jokowi, in the future, football coaching in Indonesia will start from coaching in the U-15.

“The concentration between 10-15 years of age, it can be selected, may be 20-25 children, included in the national training center, so that later we can follow the championship in Asia, starting from there even,” Jokowi said.

Earlier, while giving a speech at the opening of the 2015 the Presidents Cup football tournament, President Jokowi asserted, national football reform is an option that should be taken to establish a national football achievements in the future.

According to the President Jokowi, football reforms require great step and patience “It’s okay now we sanctioned by FIFA, could not compete internationally, than we play but lost constantly,” said Jokowi.

The President wished the the Presidents Cup tournament become an arena football reunification activists in the homeland. (DND/GUN/ES)