PSSI and KNVB Strengthen Partnership to Advance Indonesian Football

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) have reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the development of football in Indonesia. This commitment was reinforced during an official meeting held at the KNVB campus in Zeist, Netherlands, on January 27, 2025.

PSSI President, Erick Thohir, expressed his appreciation for the ongoing collaboration between the two organizations. He emphasized the importance of continuing the discussions and focusing on key priorities in their football development programs.

The meeting in Zeist follows up on earlier discussions that took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, in September of the previous year. During this meeting, the focus was placed on six main areas for the continued partnership between PSSI and KNVB.

The first priority is the development of human resources to improve the skills and expertise of individuals involved in Indonesian football. The second area focuses on coach development, with plans for joint training courses and coach exchanges between the two countries. Third, there will be a strong emphasis on youth talent development, including providing opportunities for Dutch coaches to work with Indonesia's junior national teams.

The fourth priority is increasing the number of matches, particularly for national teams and junior teams. Fifth, the development of women's football in Indonesia will be prioritized to strengthen the national women's team. Finally, both organizations aim to collaborate on administrative matters, safety, event planning, and other important aspects of football development.

KNVB Secretary General, Gijs de Jong, shared his optimism about the future of the partnership, highlighting their shared vision for advancing football through development programs.

PSSI is confident that this strategic collaboration, grounded in a mutual vision, will have a significant impact on the progress of Indonesian football. The partnership with KNVB is seen as a crucial step towards realizing their goal of bringing Indonesia’s national team to greater prominence on the global stage.

Erick Thohir also clarified that PSSI's mission is to become the top national team and league in Southeast Asia, with ambitions to extend further across Asia. He stressed the importance of focusing on sustainable development programs, particularly in youth development, referee education, coaching, and the structure of football competitions in the country.