Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) plans to forge a partnership with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to develop Indonesia's national football teams.
"Next week, we will officially welcome representatives from the KNVB to sign a cooperation agreement," said PSSI Chairperson Erick Thohir at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Saturday.
He explained that under the partnership, PSSI and KNVB will collaborate to enhance the quality and experience of Indonesia's men's and women's national teams across all age groups. Additionally, the partnership will encourage both football federations to organize regular friendly matches between their national teams.
The KNVB has already invited Indonesia’s women’s football team to play a match against the Dutch team on October 25 this year, Thohir stated. He mentioned that the men’s national teams of both countries will also face each other, although the date is yet to be confirmed.
"They (the Dutch men's football team) will come here at the appropriate time," he added.
Thohir further revealed that the KNVB will assist in increasing the capacity of Indonesian football coaches. He explained that the Dutch federation will provide mentoring for coaches from various Indonesian regions, aiming to establish a higher national coaching standard.
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"The number of football coaches in Indonesia, a large country, is still stuck at just 12,000, which significantly lags behind Japan, which has around 76,000 coaches," he noted.
PSSI and KNVB have been in communication since 2022, when PSSI’s Technical Director, Indra Sjafri, visited the Dutch federation’s headquarters to explore potential cooperation in talent scouting, coach training, youth football development, women’s football, and national team management.
Later, on November 25 that year, the KNVB organized the Oranje Indonesia Festival in Jakarta.
PSSI to partner with Dutch KNVB to boost Indonesia's football teams
A dressing room is pictured inside Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on July 5, 2022, as it is being prepared for the upcoming exhibition football match between English Premier League teams Manchester United and Liverpool FC on July 12. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (AFP/LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA)
A dressing room is pictured inside Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on July 5, 2022, as it is being prepared for the upcoming exhibition football match between English Premier League teams Manchester United and Liverpool FC on July 12. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (AFP/LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA)