Once again, I have entrusted you all to raise the name of the country – raise the name of Indonesia – hence, you should have good preparation, training, and discipline, so that your achievements will truly make all of our people proud.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on the Indonesian amputee soccer team to make all-out efforts in preparing themselves in order to make Indonesians proud at the 2022 Amputee Football World Cup.

"Once again, I have entrusted you all to raise the name of the country – raise the name of Indonesia – hence, you should have good preparation, training, and discipline, so that your achievements will truly make all of our people proud," he remarked here on Wednesday.

The president made the statement while welcoming the board of the Indonesian Amputee Football Association (PSAI) as well as athletes and coaches of the national amputee soccer team at the State Palace, Jakarta.

The president expressed delight over the achievement of the national team for qualifying for the tournament to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 1-9, 2022.

"Congratulations (to the soccer team), once again," he stated.

On the occasion, Jokowi also stated that the Youth and Sports Ministry had prepared all the supporting needs and facilities for the team.

Furthermore, the government had provided an allowance worth Rp500 million (US$32.2 thousand) for the team to be used during the competition, he stated.

He emphasized that a bonus awaited the team if it were to emerge as the champion of the tournament.

Indonesia advanced to the Amputee Football World Cup for the first time after winning the qualifying round held in Bangladesh in March 2022.

At the 2022 Amputee Football World Cup, Indonesia is placed in Group C along with England, Argentina, and the United States.

On the occasion, the president was accompanied by State Secretary Minister Pratikno as well as Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali.

Meanwhile, the PSAI and the amputee soccer team officials that attended the event comprised General Chairperson of PSAI Yudi Yahya, Secretary General of PSAI Rusharmanto, as well as head coach of the soccer team Bayu Guntoro.

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Translator: Desca Natalia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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