The Hope Of Indonesian Entrepreneurs After Handling 51 Percent Of Oxford United Shares, Club Facilities Can Be Utilized As Indonesian National Team's Training Ground

Entrepreneurs Indonesia became the majority shareholder in Oxford United. (Photo: Doc. Oxford United)

JAKARTA - Entrepreneurs from Indonesia, Anindya Bakri, want the Oxford United facility to become a training ground for Indonesian national players. This hope was conveyed after controlling 51 percent of the British club's shares with Erick Thohir.

Anindya Bakrie and Erick Thohir officially own the majority of the Premier League's first division (League One) club shares on Tuesday, September 27. The certainty was announced at the Oxford United GMS, in Oxford City, England.

"Hopefully later this facility at Oxford United can also be used at least as a training ground for our national players," Anindya said in a statement received by reporters.

The purchase of the majority of Oxford shares is a tangible manifestation of the long-planned target since Anindya and Erick entered Oxford United in 2018. Both control shares with a share of 25.5 percent each.

The composition of Oxford United shareholders remains the same. There are Thai businessmen, Sumiha 'Tiger' Thanakarnjasuth and Vietnamese businessman Horst Geicke.

"We are honored to have the opportunity to be a part of Oxford United, a English football club that has a long tradition and long history and a proud reputation," said Anindya.

Anindya's work with Bakrie Group in the field of sports was indeed quite long. Before controlling the majority stake in the Oxford Group Bakrie group, it was recorded that they had a Brisbane Roar (Australian) football club, SAD Deportivo (Uruguay), and CS Visé (Belgium).

Meanwhile, at the local level of the Bakrie Group, it oversees the Pelita Jaya sports club, Persija Jakarta and Arema Malang. In addition, Anindya Bakrie is also known as the General Chair of the All-Indonesian Swimming Association (PRSI).

Anindya explained that there are at least four focuses that Oxford United put first in the near future. The first focus is the new management occupied by Grant Ferguson as chairman and Tim Williams as CEO.

Then their second focus was bringing Oxford United to apply better corporate governance elements because football is a business after all. Then third, strengthen the community development element.

"Next, the Bakrie Group as a business entity that has aspirations in the energy transition sector also wants to harmonize the net zero mission that Oxford County wants to implement immediately," he said.

The new management will determine important targets in the future. These include targets to advance to the EFL Championship division, construction of new stadiums, and many other important things.