PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir highlighted the sacrifices of the Indonesian national team players in the film "The Longest Wait," which chronicles the Garuda team's historic journey through the 2026 World Cup qualifying rounds.
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Erick said the film not only showcases Indonesia's journey, but also shows the human side of the players who made various sacrifices to defend the Red and White.
"This isn't a message from PSSI, but rather a message from the players, that they are also ordinary people who need a support system. Their sacrifices are different, but their goal is the same: they are proud to be part of our journey as the Indonesian nation, especially in football," Erick said after watching "The Longest Wait" at the film's gala premiere at Grand Indonesia.
He then cited the example of Yakob Sayuri's struggles in facing pressure after making a mistake in the match against Saudi Arabia in the fourth round, as well as the sacrifices of Beckham Putra's parents in supporting their son's journey to representing the national team.
Not only that, Erick also appreciated the contributions of Rizky Ridho and Marselino Ferdinan, as well as the struggles of Indonesian players who have careers abroad, such as Jay Idzes, Kevin Diks, and Calvin Verdonk.
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