JAKARTA – Minister for State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir is running for the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) for the 2023-2027 period. Erick registered himself at the PSSI Office at Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, some time ago. Erick Thohir is one of the five candidates for general chairman of PSSI for the 2023-2027 period besides the Chairperson of the RI DPD LaNyalla Mattalitti, Arif Wicaksono, Doni Setiabudi, and Fary Djemy Francis.
Erick said he felt compelled to fix the messiness of Indonesian football so that it would be more advanced in the future. Erick also revealed that Indonesia needs guts to be able to compete with other countries, to fight and win on the international stage.
“What PSSI needs to progress today is the courage to break through limitations, and the courage to create an ecosystem that supports the growth of the national football industry,” said Erick.
Erick also explained that the problems of Indonesian football have never changed. The problem is the coaching at a young age that doesn’t go well, the chaotic management of league competitions, integrity and fair play in competition, and an unprofessional football industry.
“Finding 11 people out of 270 million Indonesians to form a competitive national team is not difficult if we fix all these things properly. A country’s national team is only as strong as its league competition. A strong league will produce a strong national team. Weak league, weak national team. Now, it’s time for our football to move up a class, “he explained.
Meanwhile, one of the legends of Indonesian football, Peri Sandria expressed support for Erick Thohir to become the General Chair of PSSI for the 2023-2027 period. Peri considers Erick to be experienced in the world of football, even at the international level.
“Of the five existing candidates, I hope Erick Thohir will become the general chairman of PSSI,” said Peri some time ago.
Peri hopes that if he is elected as PSSI General Chair for 2023-2027, Erick Thohir will no longer bring old people into his management.
The same thing was also expressed by Perfekto Indonesia CEO Amir Faisal that Erick Thohir was considered the right person to lead PSSI, because the figure of Erick Thohir could manage in a brave, measured and directed manner. If the training of players and clubs can be managed properly, Indonesia will be able to speak a lot at the world level and even be able to compete in the World Cup.
“So that Indonesian football can develop properly and compete on the international stage,” he said.
As is known, Erick Thohir once owned and was President of Inter Milan. At that time, Erick, who replaced Massimo Moratti, saved Inter Milan from a slump and received investment from Suning Holdings Group from China. Erick was also the majority shareholder in DC United, the United States League soccer club. Domestically, Erick has also held the 2015 President’s Cup to fill the void in the competition after PSSI received sanctions from FIFA.
