Happy news approached Manahan Stadium. The pride of Solo Manahan Stadium was chosen as the venue for the U-20 World Cup venue next year. Compared with the Senayan Jakarta Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK), Bogor Pakansari Stadium, Yogyakarta Mandala Krida Stadium, Surabaya’s Gelora Bung Tomo (GBT) Stadium, and Captain I Wayan Dipta Gianyar Stadium, Manahan Stadium will certainly be flooded with soccer players from various countries. Now, homework (PR) that is not light must be completed by the city government, so that the world’s largest junior soccer event can be held well in the City of Bengawan. “There are five other fields that must be prepared as a training ground for the players. It was according to the request of the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the All Indonesian Football Association (PSSI). The five are Sriwedari Stadium, Kottabarat Field, Banyuanyar Field, Karangasem Field and Sriwaru Field, “said Head of Youth and Sports (Dispora) Office Joni Hari Sumantri. Limited local treasury, added Joni, leaving a challenge for the City Government to prepare five fields supporting the Manahan Stadium. Like it or not, intensive coordination with the central government regarding the allocation of the renovation budget was carried out by the City Government. “We have told the central government that the supporting fields have not been able to meet FIFA and PSSI standards. The solution must be improved, and the City Government cannot budget the funds. So we were forced to ask for budget assistance from the center”. Based on the results of provisional calculations made by the City Government, each field requires an overhaul of around Rp. 5 billion to Rp. 5.5 billion. “It is not a calculation based on detailed engineering design (DED), but a rough calculation based on the area of the field and the materials needed. So it could be that the budget needs for field improvement are not exactly the same in other fields, “explained Joni. Until now, the City Government believes that only Sriwedari Stadium and Kottabarat Field are in relatively better condition than other supporting fields. “And that still needs to be widened and extended. For the other three fields, the conditions are far from feasible, “said Joni. The assessment was based on the results of the City Government’s discussions with representatives of FIFA and PSSI, during the last visit. “There are certain conditions that must be met, for example Field of Play (FOP) supporting fields must be the same as the main field, the required field completeness must be available, relatively close to lodging, to be free from spectator interference,” he explained. Luckily, Manahan Stadium has just been completely renovated and is now of international standard. At least the burden of the City Government’s mind is slightly reduced, because the main venue of the 2021 U-20 World Cup is certainly ready for use by the players.Even if they still need improvement, Joni explained, improvements are only needed outside the stadium. “FIFA and PSSI divided Manahan into three rings. Ring one is the stadium building, ring two is the area inside the boundary fence, and ring three covers the environment outside the fence. “

Settling in ring two, according to Joni, must wait for standards from the central government, PSSI and FIFA. “For ring three, we will discuss it with other regional apparatus organizations (OPD) because there is a trading area and so on. The standard must be sterile, “he explained. Specifically for additional fields as a player training venue, PSSI and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) visited the location in mid-January. Joni is optimistic that the visit can produce the required budget for field improvement scenarios. Like an analysis of the environmental impact (EIA) and so on, “he said.

Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo expressed his optimism in preparations for the implementation of the 2021 U-20 World Cup, even though the City Government was faced with local budget constraints. “If it has been appointed, it must be prepared. So we continue to communicate with the central government and PSSI, so that the remaining time of about a year can be used as well as possible, “said Rudy, the Mayor’s nickname. Although the improvement of the supporting field was entrusted to the central government, the arrangement of Manahan Stadium was still prepared by the City Government. “The improvement of the second ring is in accordance with the landscape management plan of the Ministry of PUPR. If the three ring arrangement, we will find the best solution. Because FIFA and PSSI requested that the Manahan area be sterile from activities other than the world cup, during the event. Even though there are many street vendors (PKL) selter, “said Rudy. (**)