Bonuses Await The Indonesian U-22 National Team To Win The 2023 SEA Games, But...

PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir (second from the right). (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - The U-22 Indonesian national team will face Thailand in the 2023 SEA Games final. This match will take place at the Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Tuesday, May 16.

The abundant bonus will flush the Red and White Squad if it is able to beat Thailand. The reason is, the gold medal target was achieved.

Later the bonus will not only come from the government, but PSSI as the parent organization of Indonesian football has also prepared a special bonus for Marselino Ferdinand and his friends.

However, PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir did not want to talk much about bonuses. He was worried that the players would not be focused.

"Don't ask for bonuses first. Champions first then talk about bonuses. There must be but focus first. Don't focus on bonuses first and then you won't focus," said Erick at the Morodok Techo International Stadium complex, Phnom Penh, as reported by Antara.

The Garuda Muda national team will undergo a crucial match to pursue the gold medal in the largest multi-event championship in Southeast Asia. Indonesia last won a gold medal at the 1991 SEA Games Manila or 32 years ago.

Coach Indra Sjafri has also prepared the best team even though the final match was not strengthened by Pratama Arhan for getting a penalty after getting a red card in the 2023 SEA Games semifinal match against Vietnam.

"I hope the players will focus on tomorrow's match. Hopefully tomorrow they will get maximum results," added Erick Thohir, who also serves as Minister of SOEs.

The government has given bonuses for gold medalists for multi-event championships through the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora). The amount of bonuses is different and specifically for singles it reaches Rp. 500 million.

Even Menpora Dito Ariotedjo proposed to President Joko Widodo to increase the bonus for medalists at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.