REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Chairman General of the Football Association of All Indonesia (PSSI) Erick Thohir said that the arrival of Pope Francis is a historic moment for Indonesia. Erick also honored the arrival of the world figure to Indonesia.

.“The arrival of the Pope is a world figure that we must respect. I also just read, this pope comes with certainly facilities that I think are extraordinary for a world figure. Because this Pope also teaches simplicity,” Erick said after the press conference of Liga 2 Indonesia 2024/2025 at Pegadaian Tower, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/9/2024).

Erick appreciated the commitment of the Pope's visiting committee that did not want to disrupt Indonesia's football agenda in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone. The Indonesian national team will play its inaugural third round match against Saudi Arabia on Friday (6/9/2024) at 01:00pm at King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Next, Indonesia will host against Australia on September 10, or five days after the grand mass attended by Pope Francis on Thursday (5/9/2024 at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK), Jakarta.

“Information from the committee, we also want this arrival to be a good thing. They have mass and others. But unusually, they don't want to disrupt the course of Indonesian football,” Erick said.

“I am grateful to the committee, to the diocese, and to all those who have worked together between the arrival of these figures and also football we can collaborate so that the preparation of this turf of the 10th to this day is still going well,” Erick said.

Erick will ensure GBK's readiness for the match against Australia, including the turf conditions of the pitch. Erick believes GBK managers can capitalise on this momentum by presenting the best quality grass for Indonesia's match against Australia.

Erick said the World Cup Qualifying match was met with high enthusiasm from the Indonesian public given that the team managed to make history by qualifying in the third round for the first time. To that end, Erick will directly monitor the condition of GBK after the grand mass.

“Later me and the General Secretary will check into the field probably on September 7 or 8 to make sure the quality is good,” Erick said.

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