Jakarta –
PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir spoke about the appointment of Nova Arianto as coach of the U-20 Indonesian National Team. He was deemed not to have carried out organizational procedures.
Nova Arianto was announced as coach of the U-20 National Team last week. It turns out that this appointment was carried out procedurally, aka Erick Thohir himself.
This was stated by PSSI Deputy Chief Zainudin Amali in a live broadcast on a private television station. Members of the PSSI Executive Committee (Exco), said Amali, did not know that Nova would be promoted from the U-17 national team to the U-20 national team.
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Erick Thohir also spoke, but did not answer Amali’s statement which highlighted that Nova Arianto’s appointment did not comply with procedures. Erick argued that Nova was the right person to handle the U-20 National Team.
“Nova is a coach that no longer needs to be debated, the best coach that Indonesia currently has, which we have given the opportunity to manage the U-20 National Team, that’s the context,” said Erick Thohir in his statement, Tuesday (25/11).
Erick Thohir emphasized that this appointment is part of the ongoing development and regeneration process within PSSI. He asked all parties to provide full support to talented local coaches such as Nova Arianto, who previously coached the U-17 National Team successfully because they managed to qualify for the U-17 World Cup through the qualifying rounds and achieved a historic first victory for Indonesia on the World Cup stage.
“So I think the process is going well. If possible, we will give opportunities to local coaches like Nova, from U-17 to U-20. Let’s not argue why this is,” he said.
Furthermore, the General Chair of PSSI explained that this policy would become a new standard for PSSI in the future. Giving trust to local talent, both players and coaches, is a form of long-term investment for the progress of national football.
“In the future, it will become PSSI’s standard, we will also invest. Like we are giving opportunities to domestic players so that the league is better. There is alignment with the league, U-23 players can play, even players from League 2 and U-21. This is part of comprehensive development, both domestically and abroad,” said Erick Thohir.
(mro/aff)
