During a meeting with the PSSI delegation led by Mr. Iwan Bule at Hambalang in July 2022, Mr. Prabowo Subianto posed a pivotal question, “How can our national team break through to the World Cup?”

Mr. Prabowo’s enthusiasm was palpable as he listened intently to the responses from Mr. Iwan Bule and Coach Indra, diligently taking notes.

He asserted, “As a prominent nation, it’s essential for us to compete on the grandest stage, the World Cup. We must dedicate ourselves fully to this endeavor.”

He offered, “Should PSSI require a training venue for the national team, our facilities are always at their disposal. I am committed to facilitating our national team’s training at the finest academies globally.”

The football discussion was brisk and soon transitioned to the inauguration of the Nusantara Open, a youth football tournament pioneered by Mr. Prabowo.

In a moment of high spirits and clearly impressed by the young athletes, Mr. Prabowo announced from the podium, “To nurture top-notch talent, and buoyed by your earlier display of zeal, we will elevate the first-place prize from 100 million to 1 billion, including training at the world’s premier academy.”

His promise materialized.

“Persib U-17 and the U-20 national team have trained at Aspire Academy in Qatar in 2023,” revealed Mr. Dusan Bogdanovic, CEO of Garudayaksa Football Academy, owned by Mr. Prabowo. “This year, PSLS Lhokseumawe and the U-20 national team are also slated for training at Aspire Academy.”

Having supported Mr. Prabowo’s football initiatives for three years, Mr. Bogdanovic attested, “He consistently delivers on his promises, often exceeding expectations.”

He lauded Mr. Prabowo’s commitment to Indonesia’s progress, emphasizing, “His dedication is not only spoken but also manifested in concrete actions,” encapsulating the sentiment towards Mr. Prabowo’s contributions to Indonesian football.