JAKARTA, BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE — PSSI Chairperson Erick Thohir emphasized the importance of long-term maintenance of the two mini fields of FIFA or FIFA Arena, which had just been inaugurated in Indonesia.
“We often build infrastructure, but do not treat it. Unfortunately, because this is a FIFA standard field,” Erick said when met at the FIFA Arena mini field in Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday.
“If it is not guarded, five more years can be damaged. Even though FIFA will build up to a thousand fields in the world, we must show the seriousness of maintaining what already exists.”
Erick added that future management patterns will involve local communities with the support of PSSI and local governments. According to him, this step is part of an effort to build a healthy and sustainable soccer ecosystem.
“Management will be handed over to parties who can be responsible, both clubs, the private sector, or the community. The goal is that this facility is alive and continues to be utilized,” he said.
This mini field is part of the FIFA Global Program, which targets the construction of 1,000 fields in various countries. Indonesia becomes one of 11 recipient countries, and Erick hopes that there will be more similar fields going forward.
In addition to supporting sports, he considered that this field also had an important social function in shaping the character of young people in urban areas.
“The field becomes a social space. Children can grow with sportsmanship, not stubbornness,” he said.
PSSI, together with the government, will continue to encourage cross-sector collaboration to ensure these facilities can be a starting point for fostering soccer from the grassroots. In addition to Ciputat, on Tuesday (6/5), Erick will also inaugurate a similar field in Jakarta.
