Suara.com – PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir said that the presence of League 2 teams from outside Java as promotion teams in League 1 will add excitement to the competition next season.
“Congratulations to the three teams who were successfully promoted. This adds to the excitement of the league because the three promoted teams represent regions outside Java with different island regions. This is truly an Indonesian league,” said Erick Thohir in an official broadcast on Sunday as published by Antara
He said this was related to the presence of three teams from League 2, namely Semen Padang, Malut United and PSBS Biak, who were competing as promotional teams in League 1 in the 2024/2025 season.
Archives – First leg of the 2023-2024 Liga 2 final between PSBS Biak vs Semen Padang at Cendrawasih Stadium, Biak Numfor, Papua, March 5 2024. (Doc. PSBS Biak)
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Erick said that so far the Indonesian League has had many representatives from the island of Java, plus two teams from Kalimantan, namely Borneo and Barito, as well as Bali United, which represents Bali and representatives from Sulawesi, namely PSM Makassar.
The entry of the Semen Padang, Malut United and PSBS Biak teams, he said, meant that all regions of Indonesia were represented in the highest Indonesian football competition.
“All Indonesian representatives are already there. This will be a very interesting competition to wait for,” he said.
Erick said that the more teams from various regions in Indonesia, the more optimal they would be in encouraging the growth and regeneration of young players on each island.
The promotion of the three teams from League 2 also dismisses rumors circulating that next season's League 1 competition will only have one team undergoing promotion and relegation.
He emphasized that PSSI is consistent and firm in terms of governance of the football competition system in the country.
“So be clear, next season there will be three teams promoted and relegated,” concluded Erick.