Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – General Chair of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, officially recruited a coach from Japan, Satoru Mochizuki, as the new coach of the Indonesian Women's National Team (Timnas), Tuesday (20/2/2024).

Quoting from an official statement, PSSI decided to secure Mochizuki's contract signature as an effort to increase the Indonesian Women's National Team's opportunities on the world football stage. Erick said that this recruitment was carried out in line with the momentum of the women's national team's opportunities which were claimed to be positive.

“This appointment is so that our women's football will also rise and prove that we at PSSI are not only focused on men's football,” said Erick, Tuesday (20/2/2024).

The PSSI chairman said that Mochizuki was the choice because he was considered to have a good track record in the world of football. Moreover, Japan has a strong tradition of women's football so it is hoped that it will be able to accompany the journey of the Indonesian Women's National Team.

“I chose Japan because Japan's women's football tradition is very strong. World champions once and nine times have continued to qualify for the women's World Cup finals since 1991,” explained Erick.

Photo: Erick Thohir. Ist

For information, Mochizuki, who signed a two-year contract with Indonesia, is a former Japanese national team player who appeared in the 1990 World Cup Qualifiers. After retiring, Mochizuki immediately became a coach at Kyoto Sanga in 1998 and Vissel Kobe in 2000.

He switched to women's football starting in 2008 when he was trusted to manage the Japanese national team. Together with Mochizuki, the Japanese Women's National Team won the 2011 Women's World Cup and a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

“Why go directly to the national team? Currently, our women's national team has players who are of good quality with several playing in foreign leagues. So the momentum is good and we have to take advantage of it,” he added.

According to PSSI records, there are a number of Indonesian Women's National Team players who are pursuing careers in foreign leagues, such as Helsya Maeisyaroh, Sheva Imut, and Shafira Ika who play for the Japanese tier 4 club, FC Ryukyu Ladies, and Fani Supriyanto who plays for the first division club of the Arab Women's League. Saudi, Al Hammah.

Even though PSSI is currently focusing on the women's national team, Erick stated that his party has not forgotten the coaching side. In order to support competitions or leagues as the key to development, PSSI is preparing a blueprint for women's competitions from a young age, before rolling out League 1.

“The point is that it takes time. One of them, at the end of this month there will be a U-10 and U-14 women's youth tournament. This is the beginning because it has to start from the ages of nine, 12 and 14, which indicates coaching from the bottom,” explained Erick.

“So we build the grassroots, then create zones for clubs to participate in so that they can become leagues. These youth tournaments can channel competition and accommodate our women's football talent,” he continued.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(hsy/hsy)