Hekari United Ingin Hubungan Indonesia dan Papua Nugini Kian Erat Lewat Sepakbola

JAYAPURA - Manajer Tim Hekari United FC, Vonnie Kapi Natto berharap hubungan Indonesia dan Papua Nugini, makin "mesra" lewat laga persahabatan sepakbola.

Dirinya ingin pertandingan antara Hekari United FC dan Papua Select yang sebagian besar diperkuat eks Persipura Jayapura, menjadi "pintu masuk" untuk laga persahabatan dengan tim nasional Indonesia di masa mendatang.

"Kami bahkan berencana mengundang tim Papua untuk bertanding di Port Moresby, September 2023 mendatang, di hari kemerdekaan Papua Nugini. Semoga persahabatan ini semakin erat dan lewat sepakbola, hubungan ini bisa berkembang. Bila perlu nanti ada dari tim nasional Indonesia bisa bermain dengan Papua Nugini," terang Vonnie di Jayapura Selasa (15/8/2023). 

Tim Sepakbola putra dan putri Hekari United FC tiba di Pos Lintas Batas Negara (PLBN) Skow, Kota Jayapura, Selasa malam. Menempuh jalan darat, tim Hekari United FC disambut Pelaksana Tugas (Plt) Asisten Sekda Papua Bidang Perekonomian dan Kesejahteran Rakyat, Suzana Wanggai.

Asisten Suzana pun merasa terhormat dengan kehadiran tim sepakbola Papua Nugini tersebut. Apalagi kehadiran tim juara wilayah pasifik itu, tak hanya datang untuk bertanding sepakbola, tetapi ikut memeriahkan HUT ke-78 Kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia.

"Ini merupakan kehormatan, apalagi saudara kita ini datang untuk menghadiri serta memeriahkan HUT RI.  Dengan demikian kita imbau masyarakat Jayapura dan sekitarnya, agar menonton pertandingan persahabatan antara Indonesia Papua Select vs Hekari United FC (PNG) di Stadion Lukas Enembe, 18 dan 19 Agustus mendatang," imbau dia.

Ketua Tim Pertandingan Persahabatan Papua Indonesia Select vs Hekari United FC Papua Nugini, Elia Loupatty, memastikan persiapan sudah fix 100 persen. "Tinggal main saja, persiapan sudah semua baik dari lapangan, lampu bahkan sound system sudah ok," kata Elia.

Sementara terkait tiket masuk senilai Rp100 ribu yang dibebankan kepada penonton, lanjut Elia, seluruhnya akan dipergunakan membayar biaya operasional penggunaan stadion dan kawasan sekitarnya. Disamping itu, untuk memberdayakan SDM yang diperbantukan saat laga persahabatan tersebut.

"Ada ratusan orang yang dilibatkan sehingga perlu diberdayakan. Belum lagi nanti ada yang diperuntukan untuk kebersihan serta keamanan."

"Pada intinya tiket masuk Rp100 ribu itu untuk membayar hal-hal yang kaitan dengan sewa stadion sampai kepada retrebusi. Dan karena itu, saya harap masyarakat bisa maklum," tutup ia. ***

JAYAPURA - Hekari United FC Team Manager, Vonnie Kapi Natto hopes that relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, will be more "friendly" through friendly football matches.

She wants the match between Hekari United FC and Papua Select, which is mostly strengthened by former Persipura Jayapura, to be the "entrance" for friendly matches with the Indonesian national team in the future.

"We plan to invite the Papuan team to compete in Port Moresby, next September 2023, on Papua New Guinea's Independence Day. Hopefully, this friendship will be closer and through football, this relationship can develop. If necessary, later the Indonesian national team can play with Papua New Guinea," explained Vonnie in Jayapura, Tuesday (15/8/2023).

The Hekari United FC men's and women's football teams arrived at the Skouw State Cross Border Post (PLBN), Jayapura City, Tuesday night. The Hekari United FC team was welcomed by the Acting Assistant Secretary of Papua for Economic Affairs and People's Welfare, Suzana Wanggai.

Assistant Suzana was also honored by the presence of the Papua New Guinea football team. Moreover, the presence of the Pacific region champion team, not only came to compete in football but also enlivened the 78th of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia.

"This is an honor, especially since they came to attend and enliven the Indonesian Independence Day.  Thus, we appeal to the people in Jayapura and its surroundings, to watch the friendly match between Indonesia Papua Select vs Hekari United FC (PNG) at Lukas Enembe Stadium, on August 18 and 19," she appealed.

The team of Papua Indonesia Select vs Hekari United FC Papua New Guinea, Elia Loupatty, ensures that preparations are 100 percent fixed. "Just play, the preparation is all good including the field, the lights and even the sound system," Elijah said.

Meanwhile, regarding the entrance ticket worth IDR100 thousand charged to spectators, Elijah continued, all of them will be used to pay operational costs for the use of the stadium and the surrounding area. In addition, to empower human resources seconded during the friendly match.

"There are hundreds of people involved so it needs to be empowered for cleanliness and safety.”

"In essence, the IDR 100,000 entrance ticket is to pay for things related to stadium rent and retribution. And because of that, I hope the public can understand," he concluded. ***