Women's football has been gaining more attention, especially following Australia’s successful hosting of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Indonesia is also beginning to develop its women’s football team, with hopes of making an impact at the national, Asian, and global levels. In an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport, Vivin Cahyani, a member of the Executive Committee (Exco) of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and Chairperson of Indonesia's Women’s Football Committee, discussed the federation’s plans for advancing the women’s national team.
— What are PSSI's plans for nurturing female football talent for the national team?
— PSSI is continuously encouraging local football associations in each province to take steps toward player development by organizing local competitions. Additionally, PSSI plans to launch coaching clinics and run campaigns specifically for women’s football. We will introduce both in-house programs and initiatives supported by FIFA to promote women's football. Our focus is on regions where development structures already exist, pushing them to further advance. For areas that haven’t developed yet, the priority will be building talent first.
— How do you assess the potential for women’s football talent in Indonesia?
— In this regard, Indonesia Women’s National Team coach Satoru Mochizuki, who led Japan to victory in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, has set a high standard. The criteria under Coach Mochizuki are quite demanding. I hope that regional associations begin to make improvements so that new talents can emerge from these areas. The key is to activate local competitions to find and cultivate fresh talent.
— What role does PSSI play in identifying female football talent in Indonesia?
— PSSI has provided various incentives and implemented numerous programs, including campaigns, workshops, and training sessions. One of our upcoming programs in December involves bringing a specialized coaching team from Japan, focusing on goalkeeper training. It must be acknowledged that women’s football in Indonesia is still in the early stages of development.
— What is PSSI's target for Indonesian women’s football?
— Our target starts with establishing a women’s football league, as the demand for it is strong. AFC also expects us to create a domestic women’s league. However, there’s still the challenge of having a small talent pool. Ultimately, PSSI aims for the women’s national team to achieve success, initially at the Asian level, with the long-term goal of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.