Indonesian U-22 National Team Player The Story Of The Struggle To Win The 2023 SEA Games Gold In Front Of Ganjar

Four Indonesian U-22 national team players met with the Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo (center). (Photo: Doc. Ist)

Four Indonesian U-22 national team players met with the Governor of Central Java who is also a presidential candidate from the PDI-P, Ganjar Pranowo, Monday, May 22.

The four U-22 Indonesian national team players are Alfreanda Dewangga Santosa, Ernando Ari Sutaryadi, Amiruddin Bagas Kaffa, and Ilham Rio Fahmi. The four of them are footballers from Central Java who participated in making Indonesia proud at the 2023 Sea Games in Cambodia.

In front of Ganjar, the four players told many things. Starting from the final match of the Sea Games, until the beginning of the career and great support for the family.

"Tonight I arrived with children who yesterday shocked Asean, the world and Indonesia. Cool children," said Ganjar opening a chat

They then talked about the Sea Games final against Thailand which ended with a score of 5-2 for Indonesia's victory. Described how the atmosphere of the final was which was dramatic and tense.

"Emotional, because it is final. Second, for fighting arch rivals in Southeast Asia," said Rio Fahmi.

Then Dewangga added how the atmosphere was in the final minute when the position was still 2-1 for Indonesia. At that time, both players and officials thought the referee had blown the long whistle of the match.

"On the bench, I saw time. It's been more than seven minutes. It's been more than two whistles, it turns out that it's still one whistle. It was carried by a tense atmosphere. When position 2 was the same, it provided mutual support," said the national team defender from Semarang City.

Ganjar then asked the players who was the first person to be contacted when they were confirmed to be champions. The four of them turned out to be compact in answering their parents, especially their mothers.

"I immediately ran for a cellphone to call my mother. Coincidentally, my parents were in Umrah. I said 'Mom, I won' and he immediately thanked the Kaaba," said Ernando Ari, who was guarding Indonesia's goal in the final.

In addition, Ganjar also got a story from Rio Fahmi who used to graduate from high school in 2017 worked on a cellphone counter. He worked for a year before finally getting the opportunity to select in Jakarta. The selection was obtained for support from the coach as a child in Banjarnegara.

Ganjar, who listened to the stories of the national team players, admitted that he was touched and proud. Apparently, behind the achievements obtained, there is support from the family, closest people, and the struggle to practice from an early age.

"How can they have a terrible struggle. Since childhood they have practiced, on average, grades 1 or 2 of their elementary schools have entered SSB. This means that the struggle is very long. That's why we talked outside of football's technicalities, I asked who was the first person you contacted, it turned out that everyone said'mother.' Great, "said Ganjar.

Ganjar added, from the story of the Indonesian U-22 national team players, it is known that behind the success of great children, there is always the support of many parties, especially families.

"In fact, someone even ran away to take a cellphone after celebrating his mother's phone, which was extraordinary," said Ganjar.

Ganjar added that apart from the U-22 national team players, many athletes from Central Java also donated gold medals at the 2023 Sea Games. At least, there are around 40 medals donated by athletes from Central Java.

"This means that there is hope for the future that the government must prepare. Some of them wanted to become civil servants. So it is important then we give them a kind of reward for the prize. Awards and respect for them to get a good profession for the future," he said.

The award will inspire other athletes to have the motivation to excel. It also inspires them to have a winning mentality like last Sea Games finals.

"It turned out that they strengthened each other, the psychologists were great, the coaches were great, and until they won. Of course there will still be hope that next they want to celebrate for the next champions. But, we must also pay attention to their future so that this will inspire others to be like them," said Ganjar.