21-9-2023 (JAKARTA) President Joko Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, has announced that a training center for the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) will be constructed in the new capital, Nusantara, located in East Kalimantan. During the groundbreaking ceremony for the Nusantara Hotel in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, President Widodo revealed the plan for the PSSI training center.
The training center will comprise six to eight football fields and is expected to be completed within six months. The funding for its construction will be provided by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). President Widodo emphasized that FIFA’s support for the PSSI training center demonstrates international confidence in the development of Nusantara and Indonesian football.
The establishment of the PSSI training center is crucial in bolstering the growth of the national football team. President Widodo highlighted the importance of having a dedicated training facility, stating, “For a really long time, we did not have a football training camp. How can we win a championship if we do not have a proper training camp? With this training camp, we can see the development of our football team in the next five to ten years.”
President Widodo expressed his belief that with proper training and development, the national football team will emerge as the best in Southeast Asia, and possibly even Asia. He acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “We cannot keep losing. We always lose every time we play. Now it is getting better; we are starting to win some matches.”
In the near future, the groundbreaking ceremonies for hospitals, shopping centers, the PSSI training center, and additional hotels will take place in Nusantara. The development of the new national capital is a long-term project, expected to be completed by 2045. Private cooperation and investment will primarily fund the construction of Nusantara, with the state budget covering only 20 percent of the total funding required.
