18 PFA Students Depart for Gothia Cup 2025 Tournament

06 July 2025

Timika, July 6, 2025 – Today, 18 students from Papua Football Academy (PFA) left Timika to compete in the Gothia Cup 2025 tournament, the world's largest youth football tournament to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, from July 13-19, 2025.

"They will undergo training camp and trial matches before departure in Jakarta. Subsequently, the team will depart for Sweden on Friday, July 11, 2025," said PFA Head Coach Ardiles Rumbiak.

He explained that the students consist of 16 students born in 2011 and 2 students born in 2010. To prepare for Sweden, they received special briefings about the culture and language of participating countries, international communication ethics, ways to build global friendships, as well as values of sportsmanship and fair play.

"In line with the PFA Children Safeguarding guidelines, before departure we also provided an overview of the schedule, accommodation, culture, language, including food there. This way, they are better prepared and feel safer and can adapt more easily upon arrival in Sweden," said Ardiles.

Meanwhile, Director and EVP Sustainable Development PTFI Claus Wamafma said this tournament is a golden opportunity for PFA children to gain experience competing at the international level. "Besides competing, they can also experience and see the football atmosphere in Europe and the world that has been the center of modern football," he said.

Claus said PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) as the initiator of PFA fully supports PFA children in the Gothia Cup 2025 event. This is a form of PTFI's commitment to providing real support for developing young talent in Papua.

"PTFI will continue to encourage and facilitate competitions for PFA children not only at the national level but also internationally. Gothia Cup 2025 is the second international tournament that PFA participated in 2025. In the future, PTFI hopes PFA can become one of the best football academies in Indonesia," said Claus.

PFA becomes the first special representative from Papua to compete in the Gothia Cup. The students who will represent Papua and Indonesia have previously participated in the Papua Selection Camp in the Meet the World with SKF program.

Meet the World with SKF is a global CSR initiative from SKF that presents a qualifying tournament to compete for tickets to the Gothia Cup – the world's largest youth football tournament. All program funding, from accommodation to tournament participation, is fully covered by SKF. This program aims to empower the younger generation through sports, serving as a means of talent development, character building, and strengthening solidarity among Indonesian youth.

SKF Industrial Indonesia (SKF) is the main sponsor supporting PFA's departure to Gothia Cup 2025. It is known that PT SKF and PTFI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support PFA competing in Gothia Cup 2025. This MoU was signed by President Director of PT SKF Industrial Indonesia Satheswaran Mayachandran and President Director of PTFI Tony Wenas in Jakarta, Monday, May 26, 2025.

PFA's participation in Gothia Cup 2025 represents both companies' commitment to building a strong foundation for youth football development in Indonesia, particularly in Papua. For PFA, this is their second time visiting Europe. Previously, they competed in the Junior World Cup Antalya Turkey on April 16-20, 2025.

PHOTO DESCRIPTION

PFA players training at Mimika Sports Complex Stadium to represent Indonesia in the Gothia Cup 2025 event.

A total of 18 selected PFA players will be sent to Gothenburg, Sweden, to compete in the international tournament Gothia Cup 2025.

Tadius Tsugumol (front, orange jersey) one of the PFA students from the Amungme tribe preparing for Gothia Cup 2025.

PFA holds internal league to increase intensity in facing competitions with a packed schedule.

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