PSSI Chairman Encourages Football Performance To Boost Economic Improvement

SOE Minister Erick Thohir (Photo: antara)

JAKARTA - The All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) encourages sports events in its field to become an industry that can improve the community's economy.

"As we know, if football stops, then (activities) its derivatives also stop, such as selling t-shirts, food, and public transportation," said PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir quoting Antara.

Therefore, he continued, his party ensures that the national football calendar can be friendly with all parties.

"We in compiling a national football calendar and this league must really be organized," he said.

In addition, the man who also serves as Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) thanked the ranks of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) for granting permission.

"Hal ini memang juga ada permintaan dari Pak (Presiden) Jokowi agar tetap terjaga dan dapat mendorong para pelaku Usaha Micro Kecil Menengah (UMKM)," tuturnya.

Meanwhile, one of the fashion traders or jerseys of the Indonesian National Team (Timnas), Sunaryo, who sold during the FIFA Matchday match between Indonesia and Turkmenistan at the Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, said he felt helped by football activities to increase his income.

"Mass, from selling here, you can get additional income, although not as busy as against Palestine at that time," he said.

He hopes that the activities of the Indonesian national team or the league can continue to be held in Surabaya so that their merchandise can be sold to fulfill their daily lives.

"Hopefully there will be no more COVID-19 like yesterday, because at that time there was no match, so the income also decreased," he said.

In the FIFA Matchday activity at the Surabaya GBT Stadium, the senior Indonesian national team managed to beat Turkmenistan 2-0, on Saturday (8/9) night.

Both Indonesian goals were scored by Dendy Sulistyawan in the 19th minute and Egy Maulana Vikri in the 90+1 minute.