Erick Thohir Doesn't Want PSSI To Be Cengeng In Funding Affairs

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PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir emphasized that he did not want the organization he led to be cryier and spoiled in terms of funding, although managing football requires a lot of money.

This was conveyed by Erick after attending the launch of the Gesits Garuda electric motorcycle at the IIMS 2024 exhibition arena, Kemayoran, Jakarta, Sunday.

"Well, yesterday Mr. Jokowi spoke to me, what does the government need to help? Yes, I said funding, sir. So, I also don't want PSSI to be forgetful. I assure you that for example, the government provides a sum of x, for example 100 or 500, yes, we are also from PSSI trying to get the same funds," said Erick.

Under Erick's leadership, PSSI is trying to be more independent in obtaining funding. In June 2023, PSSI brought PT Garuda Sepakbol Indonesia (GSI) to a professional management of PSSI's business assets.

Cooperation with electric motorcycle manufacturer Gesits is also one of PT GSI's work programs to help PSSI finance.

"This is the first time in PSSI's history for 94 years, we have a partner, mate, with a vehicle, automotive. Because before it had never been," said Director of PT GSI Marsal Irwan Masita.

On that occasion, Erick also explained that good national team management requires very large costs. Even Indonesia is currently quite lagging behind a number of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

"We want to have a good national team, the figure is 250 to 500 billion. If we compare it with Japan, Japan has approximately 170 million US, 3.4 trillion US. Away from us. Our neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, are already at number 1 (trillion)," said the figure who is also the Minister of SOEs.

"So that's the reality. There is money, there is prosperity, there are achievements," he concluded.