Jakarta (ANTARA) - The head of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, has revealed the reasons behind the postponement of the Indonesian Women's League until 2027. According to Thohir, one of the primary factors is the limited pool of female talent available compared to their male counterparts. He noted, “Hopefully, with grassroots development, we can gather sufficient female talent. After meeting with Ms. Vivin (Cahyani) and several Executive Committee members, it’s clear the Women’s League was intended for 2026, but the talent pool isn’t yet thick enough.”
Thohir elaborated, stating, “We need to gather around 50 players by then, as they will be of ideal competitive age—17 to 19 years old—in 2027.” The PSSI aims to conduct the Women's League professionally and sustainably, planning to involve eight clubs managed well to prevent early collapse.
“The formula for the Women’s League will involve eight clubs. We are progressing slowly—considering travel logistics, flight is not feasible. We don't want to create a league only to have it stalled after two years,” Thohir explained. He highlighted concerns about new clubs failing to pay salaries, emphasizing the need for consistent operational integrity.
To control costs, especially for club operations initially on Java and Bali, Thohir suggested using train transport rather than flights, estimating operational expenditure between 8 to 14 billion rupiah annually for these clubs. “I want to confirm, we are using trains, not airplanes, because we need to reduce transportation costs. Otherwise, clubs might struggle financially,” he said.
Thohir asserted PSSI would hold meetings to guarantee the financial viability and talent pool for the Women's League scheduled for 2027. “These clubs must have the robustness of Liga 2. I'm insisting the financial aspect is healthy. This isn't just about public relations or promotion; we want it to be sustainable,” he emphasized.
The initial target for launching Liga 1 Women had been set for 2026, with Thohir previously considering it the ideal year due to expectations of greater talent collection. To formulate the league, PSSI plans to conduct studies of women's leagues from other countries, including the Netherlands, Japan, and England, to gather insights.
With thorough preparation, Thohir expressed hope the Women's League would emerge not just as another competition but as a foundational platform for developing exceptional female football players who could fortify Indonesia's national women's team. “With everything well-prepared, the Women’s League aims for longevity and will help produce talented players for national representation,” he added.