"We are starting the 2022 Media Cup again. Of course, I am happy that (although) we are grieving, but my fellows from the media are still excited to host the tournament," he said here.
"The government expects that our friends can oversee the sport, especially football, so that we can push it forward, develop, and be better, both in terms of governance, development, and competition, including how we have to educate fans," the minister elaborated.
Media Cup 2022 is an initiative of the Press Football Association of Indonesia and a follow-up to the previous iteration, the Press Invitation Tournament of Football Association of Indonesia, which was last hosted in 2018. After a hiatus of almost four years, the inter-journalist tournament is being held again, but with a different format this time.
In the 2018 edition, the competing teams comprised journalists' inter-organizational teams. This year, however, participants will represent their respective media agencies. There are 16 national media that will compete for the cup and a total prize money of Rp28 million.
“I had suggested earlier that this should not be just a tournament, but a long competition because this is a communication and gathering place for friends who work in the media sector. So, they can meet often so that there is a lot of information and many things that can be shared and discussed,” the minister said.
"I promise to give my full support. I have offered the committee to immediately prepare for the competition. So, this is roughly as a pre-season tournament to enter the competition," he informed.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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