President Jokowi Joins Football Match with Biak Numfor Students

President Jokowi playing football with a group of students at Sorido Football Field, Biak Numfor, Papua, on Wednesday (22/11). (Photo: BPMI Setpres)

The late afternoon atmosphere at Sorido Football Field, Biak Numfor regency, Papua province, Wednesday (22/11), seemed livelier than usual.

The residents gathered to watch a football match between students and was also joined by President of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and several ministers.

The President, wearing a white jersey with the number 23 on his back, appeared enthusiastic while playing football with the students. The same spirit was shown by the students from various schools in Biak Numfor regency as they tried to dribble the ball and score goals.

Not only that, but several ministers also participated in the game, including Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia and Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian who were on the same team as President Jokowi.

Shortly after the game started, President Jokowi scored the first goal. Witnessing this, the community enthusiastically expressed their support for President Jokowi.

“Go, President Jokowi!” shouted the spectators.

The students were equally enthusiastic and managed to make a draw until the end of the game.

In his statement after the game, the Head of State mentioned that his goal in inviting students to play football with the students was to motivate young football talents in the area.

“Playing football earlier was to motivate so that children with good skills can be encouraged and motivated properly,” he said, adding that children with such skills and potential need to be developed from an early age so that they can later progress and compete at the national and international levels.

“Indeed, these talents need to be built from the very bottom, at an early age, and then there are football academies for children and teenagers so that they can enter the U-14, U-17, U-20, and so on,” he said.

The President also emphasized that nurturing from the grassroots is aimed at improving skills and physical endurance so that they can play football more effectively.

“Development must start from the bottom – from the grassroots – to improve skills and physical fitness so that they can endure playing for two rounds, plus maybe additional training if their physical condition needs to be excellent for playing football,” he remarked. (BPMI SETPRES/UN) (AS/EP)