"Mr Erick Thohir is the person, who has the sincerity to support the national basketball team," Kosasih noted here, Saturday.
He pointed out that if everyone has an equal commitment as Thohir to national sports, then the mission to develop the quality of Indonesian human resources through sports would be successful, and no Indonesian would be physically weak.
Thohir, who currently serves as member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Council, has a profound love for basketball and a commitment to national development of the sport, he stated.
"I already know Thohir before his tenure as state-owned enterprises minister, and I know that if he does not play basketball, his body would be unwell," the Perbasi head noted.
Kosasih remarked that Perbasi's current Secretary General, Nirmala Dewi, perseveres in her firm commitment to advancing basketball in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the Perbasi secretary general expressed her gratitude to Pangkalpinang Mayor Maulana Aklil, who fully supported the National U-15 Basketball Competition in the city.
"Pangkalpinang is a historical city, and the National U-15 Basketball Competition could awaken the basketball sports in Bangka Belitung Province that has an outstanding past," Dewi remarked.
Earlier, the Perbasi head stated that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the state-owned enterprises minister had agreed to support the development of basketball sports as an industry in Indonesia.
Kosasih said that if basketball is not developed as an industry despite successes in competitions, then the sport at the national level will fade away. He affirmed that development of the sport as an industry could bolster MSMEs in regions.
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Translator: Aprionis, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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