TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan Football Association (JFA) on Monday, May 22, 2023. The partnership will focus on the development of the Indonesian women's national team, the national team and league benchmark, and refereeing.

PSSI chairman Erick Thohir who also serves as SOE Minister hoped that the collaboration could bring positive impacts on national football.

“First, we will focus on cooperating with Japan to develop the women's national team. Japan has a track record on its women's national team that wins U-16, U-20, and be world champions,” Erick said in a press conference, on Monday, May 22, 2023.

“So this is something we want to encourage, and I have also asked if there is a coach from Japan who can collaborate and work for the women's team,” he added.

The former Inter Milan president said the league benchmark is also one of the important collaborations given the development of the Japanese League (J-League) and its contribution to the national team. Other collaborations include matters of refereeing that are expected to improve the quality of Indonesian referees.

“The most important thing is that our referees will be led by a referee from Japan, we will wait for the names,” Erick explained.

Besides Japan, Erick had revealed that PSSI would cooperate with the Australian Football Federation (FFA) to enhance sports science in Indonesia.

“Considering Australia’s high level [in sports technology], we’d like to explore sports technology and Pak Zainudin (former Youth and Sports Minister) reminds us that one of the best is Australia so we also want to study sports science,” Erick Thohir said on March 19, 2023.

RANDY FAUZI FEBRIANSYAH

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