Footballers Enter The First Wave Of Athlete Vaccinations

JAKARTA - Youth and Sports Minister (Menpora) Zainudin Amali said footballers were among the first recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine for sportsmen, coaches and officials.

"The closest ones who will be vaccinated are athletes who will soon carry out activities such as from PSSI, Perbasi and PBSI," said Zainudin in Jakarta, Friday quoted by Antara.

The athletes are included in the group of 5,000 athletes, coaches and assistants who will receive the first phase sportsmen's COVID-19 vaccine.

They were chosen because they will participate in various competitions both national and international in the near future.

In February 2021, soccer is conducting a training camp (TC) for the U-22 national team in Jakarta and will travel abroad to continue preparations.

In addition, starting March 20, 2021 there will be a pre-season tournament, while in June 2021 there will be League 1 and League 2 for the 2021 season.

As for basketball, the basketball national team is also preparing to qualify for the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup, while the Muism Basketball League is announced to start rolling in March 2021.

For badminton, Indonesian athletes also competed in several foreign tournaments, one of which was to penetrate the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Zainudin added, after 5,000 athletes, coaches and support staff, the second phase of vaccination will only follow for 7,000 athletes, coaches and the next officials.

The athletes are those who will be involved in the National Sports Week (PON) and the 2021 SEA Games.

"I will expand the vaccine recipients to regional athletes," said Zainudin.