TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Youth and Sports Ministry (Menpora) is set to provide bonuses for Indonesia’s U-16 national football team that had just won the AFF U-16 Cup.
Menpora secretary Gatot S. Dewa Broto said that the bonuses will be handed to the athletes, especially the ones who are from the country’s educational and training center for students (PPLP).
“As a gesture of appreciation from the government to our athletes who come from the PPLP program, who are also members of the U-16. We will provide Rp200 million each,” said Gatot in an official written statement today.
There are currently 23 players in the Garuda Muda squad, with four players hailing from the PPLP, including Ernando Ari Sutaryadi, Fadillah Nur Rahman, Kartika Vedhayanto and David Maulana.
Read: Indonesia Beats Thailand to Win U-16 AFF Cup
“That is especially for the PPLP players, the team as a whole will receive their own collective bonuses,” said Gatot, who assured that every member would receive a bonus.
The Menpora went under the nation’s spotlight after initially turning down the request from the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) to fund the U-16 national football team prior to the event. Then, the Menpora maintained that the ministry’s available funding was prioritized mainly for the U-23 team and the female national team that will take part in the Asian Games.
EGI ADYATAMA