Erick Thohir Disapproved With The Term National Football Road In Place: Faster Development Of Other Countries

SOE Minister Erick Thohir (Photo via bumn.go.id)

JAKARTA - The Minister of SOEs who is running as a candidate for PSSI General Chair, Erick Thohir, revealed several programs that will be implemented if elected.

The former Inter Milan president will compete with four candidates; La Nyalla Mattalitti, Arif Putra Wicaksono, Doni Setiabudi, and Fary Djemy Francis.

Erick Thohir said he would carry out five promises if he was elected Chairman of PSSI.

First, Erick Thohir promised to resume the League 2 and League 3 competitions which had been stopped by PSSI according to the results of the Exco meeting on January 12, 2023.

"League 2 and League 3 God willing, it will be held so that Indonesian football will continue to develop and progress," said Erick Thohir, Friday, February 10.

Even Erick wants to hold the Indonesian Cup again as a place for players to add playing minutes and hone their skills.

"If we look at the structure of our league too little. The Indonesian Cup that brings together the entire team does not work. Even though the more competitions, of course, there are more opportunities to play for young players," said Erick.

"The motivation of players from Liga 3 when they meet the League 1 team will certainly be very different. This atmosphere should be a concern," said Erick.

In addition, Erick also said that he would improve the competition scheduling system based on the FIFA calendar.

Then Erick Thohir also promised to be ready to bring Indonesian football to catch up with other countries.

"Many often tell me, our football goes on the spot. I don't think it agrees. Our football is also developing, but the development of other countries is much faster. This is what I want to pursue," said Erick Thohir.

"We have big resources, strong infrastructure, a society that is so crazy. It's just a matter of how we build the harmony of all elements in weighing on domestic football, the key is only one, guts, dare or not," Erick added.

Erick Thohir also targets Indonesian football competitions to use Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. This, called Erick, can help referees and improve the quality of Indonesian football.

"That's why we shouldn't blame anyone. Don't blame the referee. That's why it will be implemented with VAR like in the World Cup," said Erick.

"So we reduce the accusations of referees cheating. It's a pity that they have a family. The club can also invest better. They feel that the money spent has no loss on the field. It all has to be clean," Erick added.

The referee is also in the spotlight and is one of the programs that will be run by Erick Thohir.

"The referee must be corrected, the closeness to supporters must be improved," said Erick.

In addition, Erick also admitted that he would pay attention to the welfare of local referees.

"Let's not punish the referee but we never go to the referee's house. As a minister of SOEs, I went down to meet employees who were sick during COVID-19. Don't accuse the referee but his life is not there, eventually it's easy to intervene," said Erick.

Furthermore, Erick Thohir also mentioned the construction of the Indonesian National Team's training center which is constantly in the spotlight.

Erick targets the special training ground for the Indonesian national team to be completed in one year of leadership as the General Chair of PSSI.

"The national team, there are no facilities for the national team. This country is as big and this rich does not have facilities for the national team. It must be built first if it can be done next year. It must be," said Erick.