To serve as a benchmark for the national team to participate in certain tournaments, I believe that this IYC is very good and positive
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Organizer of the international junior football tournament International Youth Championship (IYC) looks forward to the Indonesian national team competing in the next IYC planned to be held in 2022 or 2023.

"We have high expectations that the PSSI (Indonesian Football Association) can send the national team to compete in IYC," IYC Competition Director Tigorshalom Boboy noted.

During a press conference at the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) here on Friday, Boboy remarked that IYC continues to communicate with PSSI on when it will hold the tournament.

In 2019, when IYC was held in Bali in which three European teams -- U-18 Real Madrid, U-19 Inter Milan, and U-18 Arsenal -- participated, the organizer had already contacted PSSI.

However, during that time, the national team could not compete due to the issue with broadcasting rights.

However, several national team players, such as Ernando Ari, Bagas Kaffa, Mohammad Supriadi, Bagus Kahfi, and Muhammad Salman Alfarid, had joined the U-20 Indonesia All Star squad.

During the 2021 IYC, the PSSI was also contacted by the organizer, but the U-19 national team was in South Korea to undergo centralized training in preparation for the 2023 U-20 World Cup.

"Even so, we are still grateful to PSSI for having provided support in the form of match equipment assignment," Boboy remarked.

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Meanwhile, Head of the IYC Organizer and Chairman of Pancoran Soccer Field (PSF) I Gede Widiade noted that the PSSI can make the most of IYC to measure the readiness of the national team.

This is because European renowned clubs' youth teams participated in the IYC. In 2019, there were Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, while in 2021, there were Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

"I believe that this IYC is very good and positive to serve as a benchmark for the national team to participate in certain tournaments," he remarked.

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Translator: Michael Siahaan, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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