The event took place at the G.P.H. Haryo Mataram Auditorium, UNS, on Tuesday (5/11/2024) and was attended by prominent figures, including M. Fendi Maulana, Regional Funding and Retail Transaction Banking Head for BRI’s Yogyakarta Regional Office; Muhammad Sungkar, PSSI Executive Committee Member; Sadikin Aksa, Finance Director of PT Liga Indonesia Baru; Persis Solo’s goalkeeper Muhammad Riyandi; UNS Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni, Prof. Ir. Dody Ariawan, S.T., M.T. Ph.D.; and Prof. Dr. Ir. Joko Sutrisno, Director of the Directorate of Student Affairs, along with hundreds of UNS students.

Liga Indonesia Goes to Campus aims to promote Indonesian football and provide a platform for students to develop their talents in sports. It also hopes to inspire more students to engage in physical activity and foster an interest in sports, particularly football, among the younger generation.

UNS’s excellent facilities and strong commitment to supporting student sports development led to its selection as the host. The university has actively engaged in sports events at both regional and national levels.

Prof. Dody Ariawan, UNS Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni, expressed his hopes that this event will serve as a turning point for advancing Indonesian football and position campuses as centers for young athletic talent.

“This event is an information bridge for the UNS academic community, who are hopeful for the progress of Indonesian sports, especially football, which has proliferated. This is, of course, thanks to the support of BRI Liga 1. This progress raises hopes for young talent, especially UNS students, to take part in the advancement of Indonesian football,” Prof. Dody said.

Organizers also hope the event will strengthen the connection between academics and professional sports while introducing Indonesia’s growing football league. By hosting this event at UNS, they hope more students will be inspired to pursue careers in football and sports in general, ultimately benefiting sports development in Indonesia.

“UNS, as a campus focused on sports, greatly appreciates this event. We hope some of our students may one day play in BRI Liga 1 in the 2024-2025 season,” Prof. Dody added.

UNS is also developing its sports-related businesses, including a nationally-standardized stadium that hosts various football competitions and a modern fitness center available for physical training. “We are open to hosting future Liga Indonesia events at UNS,” he said.

M. Fendi Maulana from BRI noted that BRI is the primary sponsor for the 2024-2025 BRI Liga 1 season, marking its fourth consecutive year of sponsorship. He explained that BRI’s ongoing commitment is driven by a mission to create economic and social value within society.

A recent study by the BRI Research Institute in July 2024 found that BRI Liga 1 has the potential to generate an economic output of approximately IDR 10,42 trillion for Indonesia. “We see BRI Liga 1 as an effective platform to increase exposure to BRI’s services and products, especially our flagship BRImo digital banking super app,” Fendi explained.

He added that BRI Liga 1 is also expected to positively impact the economy by revitalizing the local economic chain and increasing the income of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Through BRI Liga 1, the football climate in Indonesia will also benefit as it nurtures young talent, possibly emerging from UNS itself. “We hope that UNS students passionate about football can become future stars of Indonesian football. This event offers valuable insight into the operations of Indonesia’s largest football league,” he concluded.

Sadikin Aksa, Finance Director of PT Liga Indonesia Baru, emphasized that their goal is to develop high-quality young Indonesian players, aiming to reduce reliance on naturalized players for the national team.

“We are preparing local football talent now, so that in five years, our national football team will be made up of players born and raised in Indonesia,” Sadikin said.

PT Liga Indonesia Baru is delighted to collaborate with BRI for Liga Indonesia. “We want to visit campuses to convey that football isn’t what people might assume. Football players can earn more than directors, and there’s a vast football industry here. We want to work with BRI to elevate Indonesia’s football industry,” he added.

HUMAS UNS

The post UNS Hosts Liga Indonesia Goes to Campus to Promote Indonesian Football Industry appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.