“Jokowi Celebrates U-23 Indonesian National Team Victory at SEA Games 2023 with Durian Feast”

CNN Indonesia

Wednesday, May 17 2023 05:35 WIB

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) celebrated a dramatic victory Indonesian National team U-23 in the final match of the football competition SEA Games 2023 with a “durian feast”.

The U-22 Indonesian national team won the championship after defeating Thailand 5-2 in the 2023 SEA Games final at the Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Tuesday (16/5) evening WIB.

In the video uploaded by the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube, Jokowi can be seen standing with a number of ministers and other officials who took part in a working visit to Medan. Jokowi was caught on camera being overjoyed when he witnessed the Indonesian national team score the winning goal.

Wearing a Tosca green long-sleeved shirt, Jokowi looked engrossed in eating durian while chatting casually with Pramono, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, and Governor of North Sumatra Edy Rahmayadi after the game was over.

Jokowi was also seen opening a durian that had been split using gloves. This relaxed moment was also accompanied by live music where one of the drummers was PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

“Very happy very. Because Indonesia Thailand 5-2. What I said yesterday was the winning mentality, the winning mentality is very visible (in the Indonesian National Team). Playing without mental burden, we have been waiting 32 years to become champions in Southeast Asia,” Jokowi said in the video while smiling.

“This afternoon, I promised the ministers and the Governor, if (the Indonesian National Team) wins I will treat them in Sibolang to eat durian together. Because you win, you have to treat,” he added.

[Gambas:Instagram]

Previously, President Jokowi also gave his appreciation for the struggle of young Indonesian football players to beat Thailand.

Jokowi admitted that he was tense while watching the match from the television screen during his working visit to Medan, but was still satisfied that the Indonesian national team had managed to contribute additional gold at the 2023 SEA Games.

The victory of the Indonesian national team in the SEA Games for football is also the first since the last 32 years.

“The struggle of young Indonesian football players at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia tonight is so extraordinary. A dramatic match, which was marked by a rain of red cards and yellow cards, beautiful goals even in seconds of added time, presented in 120 minutes,” wrote Jokowi on his Instagram account.

“Tonight, the Garuda Muda team presented a gold medal in soccer from the 2023 SEA Games, by defeating the strong team of Thailand 5-2 in the final. A long wait of 32 years that paid off.”

“From Medan, North Sumatra, I watched the struggle of the U-22 Indonesian National Team with tension but satisfaction. Congratulations, Young Garuda!”

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