Jayapura, 17/4 (Jubi) – The Papua Student Education and Training Center (PPLP) has inadequate facilities even though it has contributed to the development of sports in the province.
“Many training programs are constrained because of the lack of facilities and infrastructure. We have small amount of funds, ” sub-head of Sports and Culture board at Department of Sports and Youth, Carolino Ivakdalam said after the release of PPLP Football contingent at the governor’s office in Jayapura, Papua on Thursday (17/4).
Ivakdalam, who is also a football player in the 90s, said that the existing facilities are partially used up. Other facilities belong to the Sports and Youth Department, while some are personal property.
He said he hopes this condition can change with the construction project of a sports school in Campgrounds region, Waena, Jayapura.
“There’s a new school opened by the provincial government of Papua specifically for sports. Maybe through this school, facilities will be provided to solve the problem encountered by PPLP, “he hopes.
When asked about the participation of PPLP at Indonesia Football National Championship, Ivakdalam said the program is part of the Ministry and the Papua Government in this case the Department of Sport and Youth. There are 13 branches, one of them is football. All branches have their own event calendar in the same year, and will be evaluated by the Ministry and local government.
Football itself has been around since 1986 and this year, the National Championship will be held in West Java. There will be 20 teams from all provinces in Indonesia.
“Athletes that we recruit are from all regencies / cities in Papua such as from Biak, Merauke, Jayapura regencies and even from the mountainous regions are also represented. It’s part of coaching and program of the Department of Sports and Youth, “he explained.
Football players have been trained for years by Papua PPLP. Moreover, there are students who have been six years for education. The athletes are recruited when they are in junior high school and high school. So, basically it is like sports school in Jakarta.
“Actually, there is a vacuum for six months when the athletes participate at the National Student Sports(Popnas). Football team had just practiced for two months. We do not give a target on this team, but we have a target for the players for the selection event of the Asian School in Solo. Hopefully, one, two or three players would be selected for the talent search in Bogor,”he said. (Jubi / Alex/ Tina)
