REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has pledged to receive the Young Garuda Squad's members on Thursday. Jokowi, however, did not elaborate on where he would receive the Young Garuda Squad who won the Asian Football Federation (AFF) Cup after trashing Thailand, the defending champion of the AFF Cup, in the finals on Tuesday evening.
"I will receive them tomorrow," the incumbent president said at the Wiriadinata Airbase in Tasikmalaya city, West Java Province, on Wednesday.
He praised the Young Garuda Squad's success in trashing Thailand with a 2-1 victory, saying that it demonstrated the strength of harmony in Indonesia's unity in diversity.
"Our U-22 players come from various parts of Indonesia, and they have different ethnic and religious backgrounds. On the field, the differences turn into harmony and strength that have enabled them to grab a victory," he wrote in his Instagram account.
The Young Garuda Squad's success was welcomed by the entire nation, including the Indonesian citizens living in the Malaysia-Indonesia border area. Heny Sudayat, a community leader in Badau Subdistrict of Kapuas Hulu District, West Kalimantan Province, told Antara that the success had made them proud.
"This is a remarkable achievement," Sudayat remarked.
Indonesia emerged as the winner of the AFF U-22 Championships after beating Thailand 2-1 in the finals at the Phnom Penh National Stadium on Tuesday night. Indonesia's two goals, from Sani Rizki Fauzi and Osvaldo Ardiles Haay, buried Thailand's lead in the finals.
This is the second time that Indra Sjafri has taken Indonesia to win the AFF, having won the AFF U-19 championship in 2013.
Thailand's Saringkan Promsupa scored a goal in the 57th minute through a header.
Indonesia equalized in the 59th minute through Fauzi who made a speculative shoot from outside the penalty area. The ball hit the Thai defender before Fauzi converted it into a goal. Indonesia scored the second goal in the 64th minute through Ardiles Haay.
