President Jokowi Inaugurates 2017 President’s Cup

President Jokowi enters the field to kick off the inaugural match of the 2017 President’s Cup football tournament between PSS Sleman against Persipura Jayapura, at the Maguwoharjo Stadium, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Saturday (4/2) afternoon. (Photo: PR/Oji)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo opened the 2017 President’s Cup football tournament, at the Maguwoharjo Stadium, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Saturday (4/2) afternoon. In his speech, President Jokowi hopes that the 2017 President’s Cup tournament can become a momentum for the awakening of our national football and a more professional football management. “I want football games in Indonesia that unites us, once again football games that unites us. Football games that is achievement-oriented, the ones that is able to become a healthy entertainment for all Indonesian people,” the President said.

Before officially opening the 2017 President’s Cup football tournament, President Jokowi congratulated the PSSI (Indonesian Football Association) for holding the tournament. “By saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I declare the 2017 President’s Cup footbal tournament begin. Have a good competition between PSS Sleman against Persipura Jayapura,” the President said who then took the first kick in the match between PSS Sleman against Persipura Jayapura.

20 Teams Join the Tournament

Earlier, PSSI Chairman Edy Rahmayadi said in the report that the 2017 President’s Cup is continuing the successful implementation of a similar tournament in 2015. He said the 2017 President’s Cup is a pre-season tournament of professional league which is followed by 20 football teams in Indonesia. “There are 18 teams from the ISL (Indonesian Super League) or League I and 2 teams from the First Division or League II that became a finalist of Torabika Soccer Championship,” Edy explained.

The 2017 President’s Cup football tournament will be held in five cities, namely Sleman, Bandung, Malang, Madura, and Gianyar from 4 February to 12 March 2017, in which the final round as well as the closing ceremony will be held on 12 March 2017.

According to the PSSI Chairman, the 2017 President’s Cup tournament is also a momentum of coaching youth and regeneration of the players, because the regulation requires all participants to include players under 23 years of age. “The 2017 President’s Cup Tournament marks as the beginning of a professional league in Indonesia which is expected to improve the professionalism and dignity of all national football enthusiasts, stimulate football as an industry that drives our national economy, and net great players for the National Team,” Edy said.

The opening ceremony of 2017 President’s Cup was also attended by the First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Governor of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, and Chairman of the PSSI Edy Rahmayadi. (DNS/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).