President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) congratulated the Indonesian U-16 national team for winning the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-16 Cup and called it a gift for the Indonesian Independence Day.

“Congratulations to the U16 national team for presenting the 2022 AFF U16 Cup title by defeating the Vietnamese U-16 national team in the finals, with a score of 1-0 at Maguwoharjo Stadium, Yogyakarta,” the president tweeted on his official Twitter account, @jokowi on Saturday.

“This 2022 AFF U16 Cup championship title is a gift for the Independence Day,” the president stated.

President Jokowi’s remarks reflect U-16 national team coach Bima Sakti’s statement that his team was keen to win the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup that would be a gift for the Indonesian Independence Day.

“I urge the players to give their best in the final because opportunities do not come twice. I hope they deliver the best achievements for their careers, and it will be a gift for the independence of the Indonesian nation,” Bima Sakti earlier stated.

The U-16 national team managed to make the coach’s words come true and beat Vietnam 1-0.

In the last minute of the first round, Kafiatur Rizky managed to score a goal that cemented Indonesia’s victory, thereby clinching the second title in the U-16 AFF Cup for the country.

Indonesia had won the 2018 AFF U-16 Cup held in Sidoarjo District, East Java Province.

Furthermore, the squad’s captain and centre-back, Muhammad Iqbal Gwijangge, was awarded the best player title at the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup.

Meanwhile, the other two individual awards were won by Thailand that also secured the third place in the championship.

The best goalkeeper and the top scorer awards were given to Tissanu Khuptanawin and Tontawan Puntamunee for having made five goals respectively.

Despite having won the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup, the squad made by Bima Sakti cannot yet rest on its laurels, as it has to prepare for the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification.

As the host of Group B scheduled to be held on October 1-9, Indonesia will face Guam, Malaysia, Palestine and the United Arab Emirates.

The 10 group winners and the five best second-placed will get tickets to the finals for the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup that will be held in Bahrain.

Source: Antara News