SUGBK Can't Be USED For The AFF Cup But Becomes A Place For Political Activities, Menpora Gives Up: Renovations Don't Start

JAKARTA - The Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Zainudin Amali, explained the polemic over the use of the Bung Karno Main Stadium. This cannot be separated from the implementation of activities carried out by Jokowi volunteers on Saturday, November 26, entitled "United Nusantara".

The activity took place at the GBK Stadium. This made netizens throw criticism at the government.

The reason is, there was a statement that SUGBK could not be used during preparations for the 2023 U-20 World Cup. In fact, PSSI, who wanted to use the Indonesian pride stadium for the 2023 AFF Cup, was forced to look for an alternative stadium.

Responding to this, the Minister of Youth and Sports said, SUGBK can still be used at this time because renovations for preparations for the 2023 U-20 World Cup have not yet begun.

"If they (Ministry of PUPR) have entered, then until the completion of the (U-20 World Cup) event it cannot be used. Yesterday the PU (Ministry of PUPR) had not yet entered, it had not started. So that size," said the Minister of Youth and Sports at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, as quoted from Antara, Monday, November 28.

The man from Gorontalo then clarified his statement some time ago. At that time he mentioned that the GBK Stadium, Jakarta, should not be used until the U-20 World Cup is over in 2023.

According to Amali, his statement on November 2, 2022 stated that the condition was that GBK had entered the renovation period.

"What I said some time ago when there was a Blackpink (concer) and others. I said that the renovation had started. The renovation was marked by a team from (Ministry of PUPR) PUPR entering GBK, to Jalak Harupat Stadium (Bandung), Solo Manahan Stadium, Surabaya GBT Stadium, Wayan Dipta Bali Stadium, and Jakabaring Palembang," he said.

According to the Menpora, the renovation of the soccer stadium which will be used for the U-20 World Cup will begin in December 2022.

As previously reported, various groups of Jokowi volunteers held the United Nusantara event which was attended by thousands of people last Saturday at the Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) Jakarta. The use of GBK by thousands of volunteers raises questions.

The reason is, the Minister of Youth and Sports once stated that the proud Indonesian stadium should not be used, even for the Indonesian national team in the 2023 AFF Cup. That is because SUGBK will be prepared for the U-20 World Cup.