Promising Bonuses If Win Against Japan, PSSI Chairman Emphasizes Indonesian National Team Not To Be Money-oriented

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chairperson (Ketum), Erick Thohir, revealed that bonuses would flow for the Indonesian national team if they were able to beat Japan in the last match of Group D of the 2023 World Cup.

Even so, Erick Thohir emphasized that the reward in the form of bonus money should not be the main orientation of the Garuda Squad to aim for victory.

"I don't like talking about bonuses upfront. However, I prefer the results before there is an unexpected bonus, such as the appreciation of the President (Jokowi) when we won the SEA Games," said Erick Thohir when met in the Sudirman area, Central Jakarta, on Monday, January 22, 2024, afternoon WIB.

"If there is a bonus in the series, if you win there will be a bonus. However, that's not the point. Don't stigmatize money to be the main priority," said the chairman of PSSI.

The Indonesian national team will undergo the third match of Group D by facing Japan at the Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. The party became the decisive match for the Garuda Squad to be able to advance to the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup.

The Indonesian national team must win or at least draw over the Blue Samurai team to advance to the knockout stages. At least, if you get one point, the Garuda Squad can fight in the third best path to get a ticket to the knockout phase.

Currently, Japan and Indonesia are in second and third place in the 2023 Asian Cup Group D standings with a collection of three points. The team trained by Hajime Moriyasu is currently ahead of the goal difference over the Garuda Squad.

Meanwhile, the chairman of PSSI admitted that he would fly to Qatar to witness the Indonesian vs Japan national team match firsthand. He wants to provide direct support to Shin Tae-yong's team so that they can achieve maximum results.

"My arrival there (Qatar) only gave more moral support," he said.