REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, GIANYAR -- Minister of Youth and Sports, Imam Nahrawi, said President Joko Widodo knows that Indonesian football wants to resurrect, although its implementation requires sacrifices.

"I think he knows very well that we wanted to get up and live again. But of course we have to be patient and there must be sacrifices," Imam said, after accompanying President Joko Widodo at the opening of President Cup tournament at I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar, Bali, Sunday (30/8).

At the opening of the President Cup, President Joko Widodo said that reform of Indonesian football needs a big step. He stated that it was fine if Indonesian football got FIFA sanction, so that it could make Indonesian football grows better.

“The national football’s total reform or improvement must be done in order to improve the achievement of national football,” he said.

The President’s statement was immediately welcomed by Imam Nahrawi. The Ministry of Youth and Sport will run all President's instructions, especially in reviving the national football from an early age.

"Of course we will carry out the instructions of the President, start from coaching the young age. The most important thing today is President's Cup," he added.

President Cup in 2015 was followed  by 16 clubs that come from the First Division Competition and Indonesia Super League (ISL). The match will be done in four cities, with “home tournament” system and two best clubs in the preliminary round will go into the second round.

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