Indonesian Children's Dreams Come True with the BRI Indonesia LKG Squad at the 2025 Gothia Cup

The clock shows 12:35 on the wall of Gamlestadsskolan located in the Larsmassetorg area of Gothenburg, Sweden. Inside a classroom measuring 8 × 8 meters, it will become a "home" for 18 of Indonesia's finest young men who will represent the name "Merah Putih" in the Boys15 (B15) category of the Gothia Cup 2025.

They are LKG BRI Indonesia players. They have demonstrated their best qualities and abilities throughout the 15 weeks of the Kompas U-14 League Powered by BRI in the 2024-2025 season.

As in the previous 11 editions of the Liga Kompas U-14 since 2010, the best players from the most prestigious youth competition in Indonesia will represent the red and white flag at the Gothia Cup, referred to as the "Youth World Cup."

Although the Kompas U-14 League is contested by football schools from Jakarta and its surrounding areas, players are not limited to the capital's satellite cities, including Java. The BRI LKG team also features teenagers from Ternate, North Maluku, and Medan, North Sumatra.

M Fauzan Alhadar, a winger from Villa 2000, is the most recognizable figure among his 17 teammates. He has curly hair, dark skin, and facial features similar to most children from the eastern region of Indonesia.

The dream of becoming a professional footballer led Fauzan to migrate to Java Island since he was nine years old. Malang, East Java, and South Tangerang, Banten, are the two cities where he has spent the most time in pursuit of his dream to become a star on the green field in the future.

Being far from his parents wasn't an obstacle for Fauzan. While participating in the Kompas U-14 League, he stayed at the home of Villa 2000 coach Arta Wijaya, also known as coach Taul. For academic matters, coach Taul also served as Fauzan's guardian.

Coming back from the Gothia Cup, he has to be better and be a role model for his teammates.

At Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Friday (11/7/2025) afternoon, Fauzan was accompanied by Taul and his uncle, Umar. Fauzan was the only player not accompanied by his immediate family before heading to the international departure gate at Soetta Airport.

"I am the first child in my family to go abroad, bro," said Fauzan.

"There is certainly some sadness as well (seeing friends being released by their parents). However, this is part of the sacrifices I have started since leaving Ternate," he said subsequently.

When asked about his ambitions in the Gothia Cup, he replied, "I want to play as well as possible. Lead the team to victory."

Taul and Umar sent Fauzan off with a hug. Both of them couldn't hide their feelings of emotion and pride.

"I pray that Fauzan can achieve the best results in Sweden. Upon returning from the Gothia Cup, he must improve and become a role model for his teammates," said Taul.

A representative from the westernmost island of Indonesia, Sumatra, is the forward, Oksal Kristian Gani. Raised in Medan by a father from Medan and a mother from Tasikmalaya (West Java), Oksal brings a unique flair to his performance on the field.

As a player, he brings the spirit of Medan, displaying a very determined and hardworking attitude, although he often remains emotional. Off the field, he carries a cheerful and friendly Priangan identity. This character has become the foundation for Oksal to be trusted as the team captain.

Maintaining a long-distance relationship with his parents and a younger sibling is not an issue for Oksal. Registered as a player at Cipta Cendikia, Oks has been residing in the Cipta Cendikia dormitory since he was 11 years old.

Accompanied by his mother at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Oksal is determined to achieve better results than his experience competing in the 2022 Gothia Cup. At that time, he brought home a silver medal in the Boys 12 category.

"I want to achieve better results in this second Gothia Cup," Oksal said determinedly.

"Hopefully, we can perform consistently and everything will go smoothly for me and my teammates," he said.

In addition to the "mini Indonesia" representation from Fauzan and Oksal, family backgrounds are present in the "Laskar Kera Sakti" squad. There is Abdalrahman Yakoub Abd Alkaloti, who is the grandson of the Governor of DKI Jakarta for the period 1977-1982, Tjokropranolo, as well as several children determined to improve their family's fate through football.

This is illustrated, among other things, by the story of Fikri Pratama Gunawan, a goalkeeper from Cimahi, West Java. Traveling for leisure by plane has never crossed Fikri's mind. His father and mother are freelance workers in the Cimahi Market area.

On their departure for Sweden, Fikri was accompanied only by his mother. They departed from Cimahi by bus to Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

"Dad can't come. He's got a lot of work to do," said Fikri, the best goalkeeper in the 2024-2025 Kompas U-14 League.

Because he has no relatives or family nearby in Jakarta, Fikri often travels back and forth from Ciracas—the training location of LKG BRI Indonesia at Ciracas Stadium (East Jakarta)—to Cimahi.

Despite undertaking a long journey for training sessions lasting two hours three times a week since April, Fikri has never appeared fatigued. He remains enthusiastic about participating in special training sessions for the two goalkeepers.

Winger Rayina Pamungkas also experienced interprovincial training trips, traveling from Sukabumi (West Java).

That strong will is balanced by Rayina's natural talent. The title of top scorer in several youth competitions, including the 2024-2025 Kompas U-14 League, is a testament to Rayina's immense potential.

Unlike her teammates who have been involved in football since childhood, Rayina only started training at a football school two years ago.

"I used to play any sport. I had not focused on one sport. Two years ago, I decided to focus on playing football," said Rayina.

He hopes to continue the sharpness he's gained in his homeland in Sweden. "The opponent will certainly be much tougher. I'll give it my all," he said.

The colors within the LKG BRI Indonesia squad reflect the egalitarian system of the Kompas U-14 League, which has consistently been in place since 2010. Transparency in player assessments through data analysis and scout monitoring has created a highly diverse lineup, encompassing both regional origins and family backgrounds.

The LKG BRI Indonesia squad once again proves that football is the dream of children across Indonesia. They are willing to make sacrifices at a young age to achieve success on the green field.

Therefore, they only need the opportunity to compete and supporting facilities to further hone their skills after participating in the Gothia Cup. This can only be provided through the support of football stakeholders.