According to a release that ANTARA received on Friday, the Pancoran Soccer Field organizer, Gede Widiade, admitted to having received this announcement abruptly.
However, Widiade explained that he, along with the rest of the organizers, respect the decision of the Indonesian government and will delay the IYC 2021 as health is of utmost importance.
IYC 2021 was planned to be held at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Bali, and Jakarta International Stadium, Jakarta, on December 4-11, 2021.
Four teams will participate in this championship: Indonesia All Star, Barcelona U-18, Real Madrid U-18, and Atletico Madrid U-18.
The event was held to spread around the word that Indonesia is a safe tourism destination to visit. Moreover, it aims to promote Bali as one of Indonesia's iconic tourism destinations.
Related news: Prompt vaccinations can reduce chances of virus mutation: Ministry
In addition, IYC 2021 serves as a soft launch for the Jakarta International Stadium, which is the latest modern stadium within the capital city.
The Indonesia All Star team, coached by Ilham Romadhona, is ready to participate in the competition.
However, owing to this decision, the team, with several former Indonesia U-16 players, had to delay its plans of a match against three renowned clubs from Spain.
Earlier, Widiade assessed that the IYC 2021 was capable of serving as a platform to reflect Indonesia's success in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We urge officials and players, as football figures, to observe and convey what the Indonesian government had done to control COVID-19," he noted at the IYC 2021 virtual press conference on Wednesday.
He deemed that the Indonesian government had done an exemplary job in handling the pandemic.
Related news: Jakarta curtails public activities to prevent spread of Omicron
Translator: Aldi Sultan, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
