PTFI Supports Liga Nasional Futsal Pelajar 2025: SMA Taruna Clinches Victory in Penalty Shootout

03 June 2025

Timika, May 27, 2025 – PTFI’s commitment to supporting the development of Papua’s young generation was once again demonstrated through its involvement in the Liga Nasional Futsal Pelajar 2025, familiarly known as Wondr Futsal Series this year in Timika. The tournament, held from Saturday, May 24 to Tuesday, May 27, 2025, was a prestigious competition for senior high school and vocational school students in the Mimika region, featuring 16 teams competing with high spirit at the SP-5 Futsal Sports Center (GOR).

The Liga Nasional Futsal Pelajar is a national-scale competition held this year in 40 cities across Indonesia, including two cities in Papua: Timika and Jayapura. The tournament in Jayapura will take place on June 10 – 13, 2025 and will involve 20 participating high schools. PTFI has proudly supported the organization of the tournament in both Timika and Jayapura, as part of its commitment to nurturing local talent and character through positive and competitive youth activities.

During the opening ceremony in Timika, Nathan Kum, SVP Sustainable Development emphasized that PTFI’s support aligns with its long-term mission to improve the quality of human capital in Papua.

“Our contribution in the field of sports is a concrete manifestation of Freeport Indonesia’s commitment to promoting Excellent Human Resources in Papua. We believe that sports – especially futsal – can instill strong character, discipline, and teamwork in the young generation. We hope this tournament will serve as a space for learning and growth for the youth of Timika,” said Nathan in his opening remarks.

Throughout the four-day event, the competitive atmosphere was marked by the high enthusiasm of both participants and supporters. The SP-5 Futsal Sports Center in Timika became a vibrant arena showcasing sportsmanship, unity, and determination as students gave their best on the court.

The final match on Tuesday (May 27) featured SMA Taruna and SMAN 6 Timika, two strong teams that had consistently delivered impressive performances since the early rounds. The two teams played with high determination throughout the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time. The winner was ultimately decided through a penalty shootout. In a tense and thrilling moment, SMA Taruna’s goalkeeper saving two decisive shots while their strikers calmly secured two goals. The 2-0 shootout result sealed the school’s victory and sparked celebrations among students, teachers, and supporters at the sports center.

With this victory, SMA Taruna was officially crowned as the champion of the Timika region and will represent the city at the Grand Liga National Championship to be held in November 2025 in Jakarta. PTFI will also extend its support to eight winning teams in eight selected cities across Indonesia, including SMA Taruna as Timika’s representative from Papua.

In the closing remarks, Nathan Kum expressed “We are proud to continue supporting activities like this that provide a positive space for young people to develop, build character and pave the way to higher achievements. We believe Timika’s young generation have tremendous potential to shine at the national level.”

Through its involvement in this event, PTFI reaffirms its belief that empowering young generation is a vital foundation for building strong and competitive future for Papua. This tournament stands as a tangible example of how support for positive youth initiatives can generate meaningful impact – both on the field and in the lives of the next generation. (im)