TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian football national team is set to participate in friendly matches with a multitude of other national football teams. The latest report implies the Russian national team showing interest in facing Indonesia in a friendly match, which was confirmed by Sports and Youth Minister Dito Ariotedjo.

Minister Dito on Tuesday said the plan emerged after Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva submitted a request for a possible friendly match.

“Yes, I met with the Russian Ambassador and they proposed whether a friendly between Indonesia and Russia’s national football teams is possible,” said the Minister to journalists at the Ministry’s Media Center at Senayan, South Jakarta, on May 23.

Prior to this announcement, both Dito and Vorobieva met at the Sports Ministry’s headquarters on Thursday, May 11, as the Ambassador officially invited Indonesia to a number of sports events in Russia. This was also a formal congratulations from the Ambassador to Dito who was recently appointed as the Sports Minister.

“The Russians intend to invite Indonesia to two events on their national sports day. There is also an event that is a combination between Russia’s cyber aspects and sports,” said the youngest state minister at the age of 32 years old compared to other Ministers in the current Cabinet.

The Sports Minister said such friendly matches will be coordinated with the PSSI and the Foreign Affairs Ministry and openly expressed his eagerness for the event to take place. “Hopefully it can be realized,” said Dito.

The Indonesian national football team, in the near future, is scheduled to participate in a FIFA Matchday against Palestine on June 14, which according to PSSI chairperson Erick Thohir, has been approved by the Palestinian football federation.

RANDY FAUZI FEBRIANSYAH

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