REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia U-20 national team coach Indra Sjafri said his team will train in the capital Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan, in preparation for the 2025 U-20 Asia Cup in China on February 6-23 next year.

During the last post-match press conference of Group F of the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualifier against Yemen U-20 with a 1-1 draw at Madya Stadium, Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday night, Indra said his team will start training at IKN next month for one week.

“Tomorrow, the 7th to the 10th or 11th, we will try the field at IKN, one week there to conduct exercises, coinciding with the inauguration of IKN (on October 11),” Indra said.

PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi said that the PSSI Training Center in the first phase of IKN has reached 90 percent.

“Already 90 percent for TC are already qualified. The pitch must have been good, the accommodation has been good, the means of facilities are also certain,” Yunus told reporters.

Chairman of the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir said this last week.

He said the U-20 team will train at IKN for one week using all PSSI facilities to then experience the advantages and disadvantages after the first phase of the PSSI Training Center building was inaugurated on October 11 by President Joko Widodo and International Football Federation (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino.

The first phase of the PSSI Training Center at IKN will be the approval of two training grounds and an 85-room dormitory.

IKN Training Center has an area of approximately 34.5 hectares and when completed will have eight courts and dormitories with a total capacity of 138 people for players, coaches and head coaches.

There are also various supporting facilities such as physiotherapy, fitness center and medical treatment.

To support the construction of the PSSI Training Center, FIFA, through its FIFA Forward program, provided $5.6 million (IDR 85 billion) in grants.

While the Government of Indonesia will spend IDR 127.10 billion in 2024 for equipment and operating costs of PSSI training centers in IKN as well as other PSSI programs such as the concentration of men's and girls' national team training both at home and abroad, various activities also include competitions such as Liga 3 Indonesia as well as sharpening technical insights and football governance by training coaches and referees.