Erick Thohir: Indonesia Women's League Is Key to Boosting Women's National Team Performance
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- PSSI resmi membuka Indonesia Women's League 2026/2027 di Stadion Madya, Jakarta, sebagai upaya memperbanyak jam terbang pesepak bola wanita Tanah Air.
- Ketua Umum PSSI Erick Thohir menilai kompetisi klub menjadi instrumen penting untuk memantau talenta baru dan memperkuat fondasi tim nasional putri.
- Target jangka pendek adalah membangun daya saing di Asia Tenggara sebelum mengejar prestasi yang lebih tinggi di kancah internasional.
PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir stressed that the Indonesia Women's League is not merely a routine competition but a foundation for improving the performance of the Indonesian Women's National Team. At the opening of the 2026/2027 edition at Stadion Madya, Jakarta, on Sunday (18/10/2026), he expressed hope that the league would increase playing minutes for women footballers and accelerate the emergence of new talent.
According to Erick, the quality of a national team cannot be built instantly. A regularly running club competition is needed so that players get used to facing the pressure of real matches. He assessed that match experience at club level would be valuable preparation when players are called up to strengthen the national team. "Regular playing opportunities are important so that players keep developing their abilities and gain competitive experience," Erick said, as quoted from his statement after the league opening.
Furthermore, Erick highlighted the league's role as a monitoring tool for PSSI. With more players appearing at club level, the federation has a broader database to assess performance and select players worthy of a place in the national team squad. He also said the current performances of the Indonesia U-17 and senior national teams have shown positive signs, and hoped this competition would open the way for more players to enter the national team's radar.
In a broader context, the establishment of this women's league is a strategic step to address the gap in playing time between male and female players. So far, Indonesian women footballers have often struggled to find sustainable competition, which has hindered their development. With the league, players have a permanent stage to showcase their abilities, while also drawing the attention of clubs and national team coaches.
Erick also stressed that the dream of bringing the Women's National Team to achievement at the international level must be matched with hard work. "Can't we dream? We start with the hard work," he said. The statement reflects a realistic approach: the short-term target is to build competitiveness in the Southeast Asian region before aiming for higher achievements. According to him, the process toward achievement must start with concrete steps, one of which is through a healthy domestic competition.
The existence of the Indonesia Women's League is also expected to spur the professionalism of participating clubs. With a structured competition, clubs are required to provide training facilities, quality coaches, and good management. This in turn will create a more sustainable women's football ecosystem, from youth development to the senior team.
Going forward, the biggest challenge is maintaining consistency in organizing the league and ensuring player welfare. If the league can run regularly and attract sponsors, it is not impossible that the Indonesian Women's National Team will become more competitive on the regional stage. The question is, can the Indonesia Women's League become a catalyst that changes the landscape of national women's football in the coming years?
