Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the National Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir on Wednesday disclosed that the association has received US$5.6 million from FIFA to pursue national football development, including the construction of a training camp.

"FIFA has a 'Forward 3.0' program. The program expects national competition, including the training aspect, to keep on progressing. Through that program, we are blessed with assistance for training camp construction from FIFA, which is valued at US$5.6 million in total," Thohir informed following the launch of the 2023 U-20 World Cup official merchandise here on Wednesday.

FIFA Forward 3.0 is the newest policy launched by the association in January 2023. It aims to support the development of the global football scene through comprehensive funding.

Through the program, FIFA expects its members, who are clubbed into five confederations, to improve the quality of their football scene so that they can compete with other countries.

The program will last until 2026, FIFA informed. The association is providing three incentives to each of its association members. The first incentive is funding of US$5 million for football operational needs.

The second incentive is an additional US$3 million for specific projects, for which elaborate plans have been developed, in order to develop the football scene over the long term.

And third, for member associations that truly need it, FIFA will disburse US$1.2 million to fund travel costs, accommodation, and football item purchases.

Thohir said that the funding from FIFA would be allocated to the provincial associations of the PSSI to improve football training and competition at the regional level.

"The training they do will be reviewed by FIFA," he added.

He said that they will host a discourse to gain an understanding and probe the needs of the provincial associations of the PSSI.

"The discourse is to take in suggestions and inputs, not to make a decision. We want to see what football players want, then formulate those into a policy," he explained.

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Translator: Michael Siahaan, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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