"The renovation of Manahan Stadium in Solo is completed, and we are just awaiting FIFA's decision," Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka stated after attending the plenary meeting of the city legislative council here on Wednesday.
According to Raka, the pitch stitching machine for the stadium will arrive next week. The pitch stitching process is carried out to improve the field's quality to meet FIFA's expected standards.
Raka said he still awaits a meeting to be held between FIFA officials and the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Chairman Erick Thohir, who is in Doha, Qatar.
All activities related to the U-20 implementation have been prepared, including promotion on billboards and print media, to invite communities to enliven the event, he remarked.
"I am waiting for the PSSI chairman to give me the sign to continue the preparation. The venue of the matches must be utilized," he remarked.
He said, in the event of Solo not being selected as one of the U-20 hosts, then the Manahan Stadium pitch will be used by the Indonesian Football Association of Surakarta (Persis Solo) for its last two home matches of the Indonesian League (Liga Indonesia).
He explained that preparing the Manahan Stadium is a commitment of the Surakarta City Government that has been appointed to host the U-20. Six regional heads signed the statement of ability to host.
"I praise the agreement that already exists and is signed by both parties. The match venue is ready, the budget has been spent, and all parties run out of energy in preparing as the host," he affirmed.
He said the city administration is awaiting official news from FIFA and PSSI regarding the certainty of the city hosting the U-20 World Cup.
"What is known is the cancellation of the (cup) drawing (in Bali)," he stated.
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Translator: Bambang M, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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