Papua – Papua Football Academy (PFA) will represent Indonesia at the prestigious Gothia Cup 2025. The team from Papua has received full support from PT SKF Industrial Indonesia (SKF) and PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) for their journey to Sweden.
This support was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the President Director of PT SKF Industrial Indonesia, Satheswaran Mayachandran, and the President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia, Tony Wenas, in Jakarta on Monday (May 26).
This signing not only marks the beginning of a strategic partnership but also celebrates the empowerment of young people through sports.
PFA’s journey to the Gothia Cup 2025 is made possible through the “Meet The World With SKF Indonesia” program. The team members were selected through the Meet The World With SKF PFA Selection Camp, making them the first exclusive team from Papua to compete in the Gothia Cup.
“SKF is committed not only to our business goals but also to our core values of collaboration, care, courage, and curiosity. Sports, especially football, can be a powerful tool to build character, develop skills, and advance communities,” said Satheswaran Mayachandran.
“We are proud to partner with PT FI to support these outstanding young athletes. This collaboration is about nurturing future leaders through sports. By supporting PFA at the Gothia Cup, we are investing in diversity, equality, and the boundless potential of Indonesian youth,” he added.
Tony Wenas also expressed his pride in seeing PFA representing Indonesia at the Gothia Cup 2025. This, he said, is why PT FI has no hesitation in providing full support for PFA.
“Over the past three years, the PFA players have undergone a rigorous selection process, screening over 4,000 children to discover and nurture the best talents in Papua. Now, they are ready to compete on the international stage. This is a source of pride for Freeport Indonesia,” said Tony Wenas.
Meanwhile, Wolfgang Pikal, Director of PFA Academy, shared that the team going to the Gothia Cup 2025 is an Under-14 team that has been training for nearly a year.
“We are optimistic about achieving good results in Sweden. We also plan to have a one-week training camp in Jakarta before departure, including two friendly matches,” said Wolfgang Pikal.
The former assistant coach of the Indonesian national team emphasized that beyond winning medals, the most important thing for PFA at the Gothia Cup 2025 is to show good character as representatives of both Indonesia and Papua on the international stage. “Even if we don’t win any medals there, the children will gain valuable experiences and we will proudly represent Indonesia abroad,” he added.
