U-16 National Team Will Attend RI Anniversary Ceremony At Merdeka Palace, Meet Jokowi

JAKARTA - The players and coaches of the Indonesian U-16 national team are scheduled to attend the ceremony of the 77th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia (HUT RI) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday the day after tomorrow.

According to the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali, this has become the aspiration of the U-16 national team players after they came out as champions of the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup last week.

"So, after I finished in the dressing room, I received aspirations from them (the U-16 national team), they wanted to meet the President and someone said if possible, the proclamation ceremony," said the Minister of Youth and Sports to reporters after attending the inauguration of 68 members of the heritage flag-raising troops at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday, quoted by Antara.

The Minister of Youth and Sports admitted that he had received direct answers from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who granted the aspirations of these outstanding young people.

"Mr. President has given directions. Okay, prepare. So later the U-16 children will come on the morning of August 17, they will be part of the commemoration ceremony for the seconds of the proclamation," he said.

The Minister of Youth and Sports also hinted that President Jokowi might meet Muhammad Iqbal Gwijangge et al. after the Indonesian Independence Day ceremony.

The Indonesian U-16 national team won the AFF U-16 Cup thanks to a 1-0 victory over Vietnam in the final at the Maguwoharjo Stadium, Sleman, DI Yogykarta, on Friday (12/8).

President Jokowi had conveyed his congratulations indirectly through his official social media channels the day after the U-16 national team's victory.

In his congratulations, the President stated that the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup title was a gift for the 77th Indonesian Independence Day.

In addition to the title, centre-back and captain Iqbal Gwijangge was also named the 2022 AFF U-16 Best Player.

Achievements in the U-16 AFF Cup are positive capital for the squad made by Bima Sakti who will welcome their appearance in the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification phase.

Indonesia acts as the host of the Group B qualifying phase and will face Guam, Malaysia, Palestine and the United Arab Emirates on October 1-9.