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Players, parents express disappointment over U-20 World Cup cancellation
Players and parents express disappointment over the cancelation of the FIFA 2023 U-20 World Cup in Indonesia.
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Members of Indonesia's U-20 team and officials react after FIFA announced the cancelation of the Indonesia 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup soccer tournament, at a hotel in Jakarta in this photo released by the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) on March 30. FIFA announced on March 29 it had removed Indonesia as host of this year's U-20 World Cup amid political turmoil over Israel's participation. (AFP/PSSI)
Indonesian youth soccer players that were set to compete in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and their parents have expressed their disappointment over Indonesia being stripped of the hosting rights of the championship.
“Of course, we feel sad and disappointed. We have practiced for around two years, but what can we say, our dreams are buried now,” one of the U-20 Indonesia National Team players Kadek Arel Priyatna said in an interview with MNC News on Thursday.
Kadek, who was accompanied by his teammate Hugo Samir, was seen wearing a black ribbon on his left arm over his red soccer jersey. They explained that the ribbons were a sign of their disappointment that the U-20 World Cup was canceled in Indonesia.
“We hope supporters will also wear these ribbons,” Kadek said.
He also expressed his disappointment that the governor of his home province, Bali Governor Wayan Koster, had also taken part in causing the nation’s youth national soccer team to not be able to compete in the global sporting event.
“Honestly, I am shocked. My own governor rejected Israel [from coming to Indonesia to participate]. The event could have informed more tourists around the world about Bali,” Kadek said.
