JAKARTA - Erick Thohir once owned Inter Milan and still has an interest in English club Oxford United, but the abiding football dream of the Indonesian businessman cum politician is to take his country back to the World Cup.
Football is followed passionately by tens of millions in the South-east Asian archipelago, but Indonesia's sole World Cup appearance came as the Dutch East Indies in 1938 and the country has rarely threatened a return since independence in 1945.
Thohir, who became chairman of the national football association (PSSI) in 2023, believes that Indonesia should at least be in the frame for a trip to the Finals in 2026 with up to nine slots available to Asian teams.
"Indonesia should be in the top nine in Asia, with our population and our passion for football from all of the people of Indonesia. But of course it takes time," the 54-year-old Cabinet minister said.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 25, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 25, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Dedication To Sushi Tradition
An iron law of sushi holds that the more impressive the restaurant, the smaller the sign.
Squid Game 2 cast play five stones, sepak takraw
In K-drama Squid Game (2021 to present), players take on children's games for a hefty cash prize in the hit Netflix series. But how would the cast fare playing children's games known to Singaporean and regional audiences?
Sequels take nine of 10 slots in US box office in 2024
In 2023, Hollywood's creative community was celebrating the apparent decline of corporate, paint-by-numbers sequels and remakes.
Zhao Lusi says she was abused and is suffering from depression
The year may have just begun, but the Chinese entertainment scene has already been hit by controversy. Chinese actress Zhao Lusi (right) revealed in a post on Weibo on Jan 1 that she was a victim of physical abuse at the workplace and is now suffering from depression.
Jungkook Is First Asian Artiste To Surpass 2.1 Billion Streams With One Song On Spotify
K-pop boy band juggernaut BTS’ member Jungkook is the first Asian artiste to surpass 2.1 billion streams on Spotify with one song.
Comfort Meets Style
Young employees are increasingly switching out formal suits and ties for more expressive dressing styles
Down-to-earth home with stories to tell
Artist and stylist Geraldine Toh's apartment project combines art, design elements and an earthy sensibility with the colour ochre
Tampines legend Kopitovic makes staggering Bali move
When Boris Kopitovic first arrived in Singapore to join BG Tampines Rovers in 2020, few expected the Montenegrin forward to make a lasting impact.
LEE IMMERSING IN GREECE
World Aquatics scholarship recipient quits job to pursue water polo dreams
Gunners On Fire Despite Virus
They overcome bug outbreak to overturn Brentford's advantage for crucial victory
