Student Team Released by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to Participate in a Tournament in Thailand
JAKARTA - The Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) officially released two Garuda Muda Indonesia student football teams for the U-12 and U-13 age groups to compete with other countries in Bangkok, Thailand.
The release ceremony for the two teams took place at the Kemenpora Media Center, Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, February 2, 2026. The Secretary of the Minister of Youth and Sports (Semenpora), Gunawan Suswantoro, was present to release them.
"I pray that from these two teams, there will be players who can enter the Indonesian National Team," said Gunawan in a press conference with the media.
The tournament that both teams will participate in is the Bangkok International Youth Football Festival 2026, which is scheduled to take place on February 7-8, 2026.
A total of 24 student athletes and six team officials departed for the White Elephant Country. The team was sent as part of the development of Indonesia's early football achievements at the international level.
Gunawan hopes that the players who leave can train and compete as well as possible and can build communication with other countries that participate in the competition.
"That's important, bilateral relations or communication relations with other countries are important so that one day when you become an official you are no longer rigid. That's the point there," he said.
Both teams departed for Thailand with self-funding and support from sponsors. The players selected to participate are the result of the training of several football schools (SSB) in accordance with the coach's recommendations.
Sapran Oktari as a coach said that they left without carrying a big target, but hoped that his team could perform optimally to gain experience competing.
"Until now, the most special thing that has departed and brought home is the path of achievement for the school. In addition, the experience of children being able to play abroad," he said.
The Bangkok International Youth Football Festival 2026 is a tournament at the Southeast Asian level. Some of the participating countries are Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, and Malaysia.