JAKARTA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia on Thursday elected its minister for state-owned enterprises Erick Thohir to lead the country's football governing body PSSI for five years.
"I am thankful for being trusted by voters, the Indonesian people, supporters, referees, soccer players," Thohir said at his first press conference as PSSI chairman. The 52-year-old previously owned football clubs Inter Milan and DC United, and served as the chairman of the 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee.
Indonesia will host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup this year. 24 countries, including Indonesia, will participate in the tournament.
"For the Indonesian national team, I will immediately communicate with the coaches and players to see what we can do to support them so that they give their best. It will not be easy, but we will try to do it," said Thohir.
The U-20 World Cup was originally to be staged in 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced FIFA to postpone the event. ■
