National Football Team Gets Bonus from President Jokowi

President Jokowi, Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi (5th L) and Chairman of the PSSI Edy Rahmayadi (5th R) poses with National Soccer Squad to AFF Suzuki Cup 2016 at Merdeka Palace, here on Monday.

Jakarta, 20 Rabiul Awwal 1438/20 December 2016 (MINA) – President Joko Widodo, better known by his nickname Jokowi, has given a Rp200 million bonus to each of the football players on the national Garuda team, despite their failure to win the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2016.

“The government gave a small bonus – Rp200 million each – to all players,” Antara News quoted President Jokowi as saying here on Monday.

President Jokowi invited the national football team to Merdeka Palace that day for lunch, during which he promised the bonus.

“I hope this afternoon that it will have been transferred. You may just check it. I gave the order this morning,” he said.

At the event, President Jokowi was flanked by sports minister Imam Nahrawi, PSSI chief Edy Rahmayadi and presidential chief of staff Teten Masduki.

“I am proud and moved for the attention President Jokowi has given to us. We thank him a lot. Although we did not come out as the champion, he still gives us attention, and this is very special. I thank the President, PSSI (the All Indonesia Football Association), officials and others for this attention,” one of the players, Andik Vermansyah, said.

He also noted that they would learn from their failure by being better prepared in the future.

He said he believed that at the Asian Games 2018 the national team would be able to perform better.

“Our hope is that after being given a sanction by FIFA, we must change our FIFA ranking,” he said. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)