By Kamran Hashim/Rafiq Vayani
KARACHI: In order to celebrate the 78th Indonesian Independence Day, the Consulate General in The Republic of Indonesia in Karachi-Pakistan held an International Futsal Friendly Tournament 2023 on 08th July 2023 at Karachi United Stadium, Karachi.
Host of the evening Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Karachi Dr. June Kuncoro Hadiningrat greeted the honorable consul generals, Dignitaries, Distinguished Guests, members of Diplomatic Corps and families of the participating teams. Participating teams included teams from teams from Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam, Russian Federation, Somalia and Nigeria.
This year’s 78th Independence Day is being celebrated with the theme “terus melaju untuk indonesia maju”, which loosely translates to ‘keep going for advanced Indonesia’. The year 2023 also coincides with Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2023.
International Futsal Friendly Tournament 2023 was won by the students of Jamia Binoria (binoria university) Pakistan. Russian Federation came as runner-up and the hosts Indonesian Consulate bagging the third position.
‘Futsal; invented many decades ago in Uruguay, is relatively a new phenomenon in Pakistan and is not that popular as in other countries. Futsal is the FIFA-recognized form of small-sided indoor football played between two teams who each have five players on the pitch at any one time, with a smaller ball than soccer that is harder and less bouncy. Prizes for International Futsal Friendly Tournament 2023 were distributed among the winners by the Consul Generals of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Russian Federation.
