Erick Thohir Appoints Former KPK Commissioner to Be Superintendent of PSSI Foundation

PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir has appointed former KPK commissioners, Taufiequrachman Ruki and Chandra Hamzah as supervisors of the PSSI Foundation. The appointment of these figures is in order to maintain the credibility of the PSSI Foundation, such as Taufiequrachman who is the former chairman of the KPK.

Erick Thohir said the formation of the PSSI Foundation had noble and strategic goals so that players who choose the profession of professional footballers have a more secure future.

According to Erick Thohir, in a short football career, young players and players who are at the top of their achievements need to feel protected, both during and after playing football so they can focus on pursuing their way of life on the gridiron.

“Organizations like PSSI, which have been around for a long time, naturally care for and pay attention to the stakeholders who have raised them. Especially players who might find themselves in a difficult situation after their term of service is over. The PSSI foundation does not only focus on helping retirees, but also plays a role in giving direction to young players and professionals how to prepare future guarantees after no longer grazing,” said Erick Thohir when inaugurating the PSSI Foundation at the PSSI Office, GBK Arena, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (22/6/2023).

Erick Thohir added, what PSSI did by forming the Foundation was none other than to reduce the burden on the government which has a limited budget to pay attention to former footballers who have made Indonesia proud, but received little attention. Because of that, Erick stated that by revamping the finances and improving the football ecosystem, especially those related to business, it is hoped that an endowment fund managed by the PSSI Foundation will be collected for the common good.

“In addition, we want to imitate what is done in Japan which has a program post athlete. With this program, footballers who are about to retire know where to continue their careers. Whether to become a trainer or civil servant (PNS), or entrepreneur. Understanding and information when they enter retirement will allow them to survive and not become a burden for PSSI and the government,” he continued.

For funding sources for the Foundation, PSSI has formed PT Garuda with 95 percent share belonging to PSSI, and 5 percent belonging to the Foundation. The Garuda company will pay dividends every three months. Apart from that, the Foundation will also receive donors from community leaders, organizations, companies who are concerned with the sustainability of the fate of the Indonesian national team.

“At this early stage, the foundation is only intended for national team players and former national teams. Because PSSI is focused on building the best ecosystem for national team players. Meanwhile, league players must be borne by the league club owners,” said Erick.

Watch live streaming of BTV programs here