Presidential Cup Football Tournament Suharto Have Held, November 4, 1974

President Suharto took a photo with the Indonesian national football team. (Special)

JAKARTA - Today, 48 years ago, November 4, 1974, President Suharto inaugurated the second title of the Suharto Presidential Cup (Soeharto Cup) football tournament. The presence of the tournament is proof that the New Order government cares about soccer.

The tournament was attended by the top national clubs of its time. Among others, Persija Jakarta, PSMS Medan, Persebaya Surabaya, and PSM Makassar. Previously, Suharto's concern in the world of sports was second to none. He often fully supports the world of national sports.

No one doubts the existence of Suharto and the New Order (Orba) in the world of sports. He is a figure who brings progress to the world of sports. All kinds of sports are fully supported by him. This support made outstanding athletes appear.

Everything is proven in the biennial sporting event, SEA Games. Indonesia was able to dominate Southeast Asia. Indonesia's tough opponents at that time were only Thailand. The rest, Indonesia always excels like above the wind.

Not only that. ceremonial sports Suharto did not forget. A series of world-class sports celebrations are trying to be presented in Indonesia. MotoGP world-class motorcycle racing, one of them.

The event not only raised the interest of the Indonesian people, but Indonesia's tourism was lifted because of it. Moreover, millions of eyes witnessed the mainstay of racers competing in the Sentul Circuit, Jakarta.

This success was proven by the dominance of national athletes in the Southeast Asian scene. In the Suharto era, Indonesia participated for the first time in the SEA Games biennial sporting event in 1977 of the continuation of the SEAP (South Asian Peninsula) Games since 1959. First time participating, Indonesia was immediately in the leading position to shift Thailand's dominance. It's amazing.

"The era of Suharto's leadership was recorded as having taken part 11 times from 1977 to 1997 and the number one position was only shifted by Thailand when the White Elephant Country hosted 1985 in Bangkok and 1995 in Buruan Mai," said AR Loebis as quoted by Sugiono MP in Pak Harto's book Goodbye (2008).

A reflection of his concern for sports can be seen from Suharto's activeness in initiating national sporting events. Presidential Cup football tournament Suharto, one of them. The tournament, better known as the Suharto Cup, was held again on November 4, 1974, after the first in 1972.

President Suharto himself inaugurated the Suharto Cup at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium. The tournament was greeted with great fanfare by all Indonesian people. Moreover, the participants came from the top Indonesian club.

In 1974 a major 4 tournament was held to compete for the Suharto President's Cup or better known as the Suharto Cup. 1974 was the second time the Suharto Cup was held. In 1972, the Suharto Cup Champion was PSMS Medan. At that time the Suharto Cup tournament was attended by PSMS Medan, Persija Jakarta, Persebaya Surabaya and PSM Makassar.

In 1974, the four teams again competed for the Suharto Cup. These four teams did master the union competition at that time. This fourth rivalry is also very high. Apart from having fanatical supporters, these four teams were also strengthened by many Indonesian national players at that time," said Nurwendo in the book Still Children of Kolong Yang Gemar Writing (2020).