Congratulations to the U16 national team for presenting the 2022 AFF U16 Cup title by defeating the Vietnamese U-16 national team in the finals, with a score of 1-0 at Maguwoharjo Stadium, YogyakartaJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) congratulated the Indonesian U-16 national team for winning the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-16 Cup and called it a gift for the Indonesian Independence Day.
"Congratulations to the U16 national team for presenting the 2022 AFF U16 Cup title by defeating the Vietnamese U-16 national team in the finals, with a score of 1-0 at Maguwoharjo Stadium, Yogyakarta," the president tweeted on his official Twitter account, @jokowi on Saturday.
"This 2022 AFF U16 Cup championship title is a gift for the Independence Day," the president stated.
President Jokowi's remarks reflect U-16 national team coach Bima Sakti's statement that his team was keen to win the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup that would be a gift for the Indonesian Independence Day.
"I urge the players to give their best in the final because opportunities do not come twice. I hope they deliver the best achievements for their careers, and it will be a gift for the independence of the Indonesian nation," Bima Sakti earlier stated.
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The U-16 national team managed to make the coach's words come true and beat Vietnam 1-0.
In the last minute of the first round, Kafiatur Rizky managed to score a goal that cemented Indonesia's victory, thereby clinching the second title in the U-16 AFF Cup for the country.
Indonesia had won the 2018 AFF U-16 Cup held in Sidoarjo District, East Java Province.
Furthermore, the squad’s captain and centre-back, Muhammad Iqbal Gwijangge, was awarded the best player title at the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup.
Meanwhile, the other two individual awards were won by Thailand that also secured the third place in the championship.
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The best goalkeeper and the top scorer awards were given to Tissanu Khuptanawin and Tontawan Puntamunee for having made five goals respectively.
Despite having won the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup, the squad made by Bima Sakti cannot yet rest on its laurels, as it has to prepare for the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification.
As the host of Group B scheduled to be held on October 1-9, Indonesia will face Guam, Malaysia, Palestine and the United Arab Emirates.
The 10 group winners and the five best second-placed will get tickets to the finals for the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup that will be held in Bahrain.
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Translator: Gilang G, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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