PAPUA – Mimika, Central Papua was bright that morning. At the Mimika Sport Center, dozens of Papuan teenagers seriously participated in soccer training under the direction of the coach. Shouts of coach instructions accompanied the flow of the ball from foot to foot of these teenagers. Outside the soccer field, on the athletic track field, several other youths are also seriously practicing.
They are practicing on the facilities of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI). Completed in 2016, the Mimika Sport Complex is a sports complex that includes indoor and outdoor stadiums, athlete dormitories, and other supporting buildings.
This sports facility was built by PTFI as one of their social investment programs. The teenagers who enter the Papua Football Academy come from all over Cenderawasih Earth. They followed a series of selections in Jayapura until they were finally selected.
In Mimika, they live in a mess. Apart from practicing football, they also receive formal education. They also receive pocket money, but it is not given in cash. The money is given in the form of savings. At the beginning of the establishment of football, there were not many enthusiasts. In 2022, there were only 477 children registered. The following year there were 1,445 registrants. “This year 2,110 and filtered 30 children,” said Director of Papua Football Academy Rizky ID.
Rizky admits, these Papuan teenagers have extraordinary talent in football. The challenge is how to maximize their natural talent. “How do these children have clear goals when they become athletes. That is what we direct so that their talents can be maximally explored,” he said. In terms of social investment, Freeport has disbursed USD2.1 billion from 1992-2023. By 2023, Freeport will spend USD122 million on social investment, including education (31.6%), health (18.8%), economy (15.5%), infrastructure (7.7%), and stakeholder relations (4.2%).
While cultural, sports and social support was 17.5%. While others were 4.8%. “For future social investment, we are preparing USD 100 million per year until 2041,” said PTFI Project Management Office Group Leader Andriyana Saputro.
Andri also found several challenges to the sustainability of his social investment. First, strengthening public and private partnerships. Second, security stability. Third, business and legal certainty. Fourth, stakeholder expectations. Fifth, political and demographic dynamics. Sixth, global challenges including technology, climate, health, and others.