President Jokowi Praises National Team’s First Game on FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023
The Indonesian and Ecuadorian national teams arrive at the field before the kick-off of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya city, East Java province, Friday (11/10). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and First Lady Ibu Iriana Jokowi attended the opening ceremony of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 and watched the match between the Indonesian national team and the Ecuadorian national team at Gelora Bung Tomo (GBT) Stadium, Surabaya city, East Java province, Friday (11/10).
President Jokowi expressed his excitement over the tie game. “I am pleased, because the initial [result] of 1-1 means that we got one point despite the efforts to keep our goal from being scored again,” the President said in his statement to the press after the match.
The President said that there is indeed a significant gap in terms of rank between Indonesia and Ecuador. Nevertheless, President Jokowi still expressed his appreciation for the hard work of the Garuda Muda team in their first appearance at the international level match.
“Indeed, there is a gap in the rank. Ecuador is ranked at 38th and we are at 145th, so please also consider this, but our U-17 team went all out,” he said.
“Very good, very good, for the first appearance, I think it was very good,” he added.
Observing the game, the President said that the Indonesian U-17 national team seemed nervous in the first 10 minutes. Therefore, the Head of State also expressed hope that in the next match Indonesia can score more points.
“Later with Panama, hopefully three points,” he said. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (FI/MMB)
