BANDA ACEH | INDATANEWS.COM - Chairman of the Banda Aceh Regional House of Representatives (DPRK), Irwansyah ST, officially sent off two youth football teams from Banda Aceh, namely SSB Barona and Lambuk Football Academy (FA), to participate in the national-level Festival Piala Presiden 2026 in Yogyakarta.
The farewell ceremony for both teams was held on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the official residence of the
Banda Aceh DPRK chairman. The event was attended by team management, players, and parents of the young athletes. The atmosphere was warm and filled with a sense of family togetherness before both teams departed for the prestigious national youth football tournament.
Both teams earned the opportunity to compete in the Festival Piala Presiden 2026 after previously winning championship titles in provincial-level competitions in Aceh. These achievements made SSB Barona and Lambuk Football Academy representatives of Banda Aceh, while also becoming ambassadors for Aceh in the national youth football competition.
Irwansyah Encourages Focus and Fighting Spirit
Before their departure, Irwansyah took the time to speak directly with the young players. He encouraged the footballers to step onto the field with confidence, maintain their fighting spirit, and deliver their best performances throughout the tournament.
Irwansyah stated that the journey of
SSB Barona and
Lambuk Football Academy was not only the responsibility of the two teams but also carried the hopes and pride of the people of
Banda Aceh and Aceh as a whole.
He reminded the players not to become complacent when they have already secured a lead during a match. According to him, concentration and discipline are essential qualities every footballer must possess to maintain victory until the final whistle.
"Even if you are leading by a large margin, you must not lose focus. The opponent will continue to look for opportunities and take advantage of any mistakes to turn the situation around," Irwansyah said.
He urged the players to always follow the coach's instructions during matches and throughout the tournament. In his view, a team's success is not determined solely by individual ability, but also by teamwork, discipline, and mental strength.
"Therefore, remain focused until the final whistle and always follow the coach's instructions during the match and throughout the tournament," he emphasized.
Irwansyah also reminded the players to learn from various international football matches that demonstrate the importance of maintaining concentration until the final moments of a game.
"We should not become the next Senegal. We can learn from the Senegal versus Belgium match at the World Cup. Senegal had already taken a 2-0 lead and was close to winning, but in the final minutes the opponent scored three goals, turned the match around, and Senegal was eliminated," Irwansyah explained.
According to him, the example shows that a team must never lose concentration even when it is ahead on the scoreboard. Mental strength and the ability to maintain focus are crucial factors that determine the final result of a match.
MOTIVATION FOR THE PLAYERS:
Banda Aceh DPRK Chairman Irwansyah poses with players after delivering a motivational speech to
SSB Barona and
Lambuk Football Academy, encouraging them to remain focused and perform at their best in the national competition. (PHOTO: Adli Safwan)
Message of Fair Play for Aceh's Young Footballers
In addition to providing advice on strategy and mental preparation, Irwansyah also reminded the players to always uphold the values of fair play. He encouraged the young athletes to demonstrate good character both on the pitch and in their daily lives.
He said football players may have idols or role models in the sporting world. However, admiration should be shown by adopting positive values from those figures rather than by insulting or disrespecting other players.
"Take the achievements and positive qualities of your idols as examples, without insulting, bullying, or looking down on other players," he said.
Irwansyah emphasized that an athlete's character is not only reflected through playing ability but also through attitude and behavior during competitions. Therefore, he hopes the young players from Banda Aceh can become role models who possess both sporting skills and strong ethical values.
He also assured that the people of Aceh would continue to provide support and prayers for
SSB Barona and
Lambuk Football Academy so both teams can deliver their best performances at the
Festival Piala Presiden 2026.
Representing Banda Aceh and Aceh on the National Stage
The
Festival Piala Presiden 2026 will be held in Yogyakarta and will bring together youth football teams from various regions across Indonesia.
In this competition, Lambuk Football Academy will compete in the U-10 category, while SSB Barona will participate in the U-12 category. Both teams are expected to showcase their best performances while gaining valuable experience for the development of their young players.
Irwansyah hopes the participation of both teams will become an important moment for the growth of youth football in
Banda Aceh. He also wishes that the players can achieve success for their region, teams, and families.
According to him, qualifying for a national competition is already a significant achievement. However, the players' journey does not end there, as they still have great opportunities to continue developing and achieve greater accomplishments in the future.
Supporting youth football development, Irwansyah said, is an important effort to produce a generation of Acehnese athletes capable of competing at national and even international levels.
With passion, discipline, and hard work, he is optimistic that SSB Barona and Lambuk Football Academy will deliver their best performances at the Festival Piala Presiden 2026 and proudly represent Banda Aceh and Aceh on the national stage. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Adli Safwan | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala