Connecting Communities Through Football, PFA’s Visit to Tembagapura
29 October 2024
Tembagapura, Papua - Tembagapura, the Land of Clouds, located at an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level, offers breathtaking scenery and challenges for Papuan Football Academy (PFA) teams who want to do physical training at high altitudes, as well as gain amazing new experiences for the team.
This activity was attended by 30 PFA students from the 3rd batch. They started the 2nd semester by participating in several tournaments outside Papua. After that, the PFA returned to training in Mimika, Papua. This time, PFA conducted training at Sporthall Tembagapura, in collaboration with students of Yayasan Pendidikan Jayawijaya (YPJ) and Mt. Zaagkam School (MZS), on October 21-24, 2024.
The purpose of the training in the highlands is considered important to increase the capacity of PFA students. PFA Head Coach, Ardiles Rumbiak said "The first goal is for the children to adjust the weather, especially in the highlands where oxygen is thin, so that they get used to it if one day someone will play abroad, or even when they play in the lowlands they already have stronger stamina and can measure their abilities from their actual abilities" he said "It means to do more it can, That's a factor that we can take from this visit as a lesson," he continued.
In addition to conducting training with students in Tembagapura. The PFA team also wants to conduct a Coaching Clinic with children living in Banti Village, Tembagapura to improve knowledge, skills, and exchange knowledge about football to the community in Kampung Banti, Tembagapura. "We want to invite PFA students to be able to see the wider world by socializing and seeing unity in diversity," said Rizki Aidi as Director of Garuda Gema Nusantara (GGN).
The PFA team in 2024 has won several awards at the regional and international levels. Won the Runner Up award at the Barati Cup Bali 2024 – U14, the top 8 in the Soeratin Cup – U13 to the Runner Up – NFDP Series Selangor Open Malaysia 2024 – U15. Currently, the PFA Team has alumni who have joined several football clubs outside Papua, some have joined PERSIJA, ASIFA, ASTI, SAFIN, RNA, TC National Team, DEWA UNITED, PSBS, MALUT UNITED.
The greatest appreciation was expressed by Claus Wamafma, as Director, EVP Sustainable Development of PT Freeport Indonesia, "Alhamdulillah, Praise God we got a very positive progress report, for us at PTFI this is very in line with what we expect".
Claus also said that this PFA is in line with the request from the 7th President Jokowi after PON, he expects PTFI will also contribute to human resource development, not only through social programs that have been carried out by PTFI, but specifically also for two popular sports in Papua, namely football and athletics.
"Currently running, both are producing good achievements, and this is very promising, we hope this will continue. PTFI is committed to always supporting the talents that can be produced in the land of Papua," he continued at a meeting with PTFI management in Tembagapura, October 23, 2024. This meeting was also attended by George Banini, EVP Operation of PT Freeport Indonesia, Clementino Lamury, Director, EVP Human Resource, as a form of appreciation for the achievements achieved by the PFA team.
At the end of the meeting with the management, Wolfgang as the Director of the Papuan Football Academy expressed his gratitude to PTFI for the opportunity given to the team to be able to gain many new experiences.
“I would like to thank PTFI for the invitation to visit Tembagapura, the students and staff really enjoyed this activity because it was a new experience, something different, they were able to see how hard work PT Freeport Indonesia employees work in their respective fields to be able to provide support to us," said Wolfgang.
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