During the Indonesia Women’s National Team match against Singapore at Madya Stadium on Tuesday (May 28), a white banner reading ‘Liga Putri?’ caught the public’s attention. This simple message underscored the growing demand from football enthusiasts for a dedicated women’s football league in Indonesia.
The issue of women’s football has recently gained renewed attention after the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) introduced the new head coach of the Women’s National Team, Satoru Mochizuki, in February.
PSSI has projected the Indonesian Women’s National Team to qualify for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, even though Mochizuki’s contract is only for two years. While this target is still 11 years away, achieving it requires a strong foundation of competition—something currently lacking in Indonesian women’s football.
Fans are growing increasingly impatient with PSSI. They argue that without a robust domestic league, the dreams of international success will remain just that—dreams.
The history of women’s football in Indonesia dates back to the establishment of the Women’s National Team in 1975, with participation in several international tournaments in Asia and Southeast Asia. However, despite this rich history, the infrastructure to support consistent competition has been woefully inadequate.
The last high-level women’s football competition was held through Liga 1 Putri in 2019, featuring 10 participating clubs. The 2020 and 2021 seasons were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and there have been no signs of the competition returning since. This absence has left players and fans alike frustrated and disillusioned.
Zahra Muzdalifah, a player for Cerezo Osaka and a former Persija Putri player, has been vocal about the need for the Women’s League to ensure the development of young talent. “I hope there will be a league in the future, so the young players have a platform to develop their potential,” she said. Her sentiment is echoed by many in the football community, who see the league as crucial for discovering and nurturing top talents.
PSSI’s plan to reintroduce Women’s League 1 in 2026 is seen by many as too little, too late. PSSI Exco member Arya Sinulingga stated that the organization needs time to build a sustainable competition. “We want to create a truly substantive league, not just a makeshift one. It takes time,” Arya said. However, for many supporters, time is a luxury the sport cannot afford. They are calling for immediate action to revive the league.
Erick Thohir, PSSI Chairman, has emphasized the importance of thorough preparation before relaunching Liga 1 Putri. He explained that PSSI prefers to conduct long-term training camps and seek partnerships with third parties to organize youth tournaments.
“We want to sandwich the Indonesian Women’s National Team by forming age-group teams,” Erick said. “Once this is stable, we can push for a women’s league because the talent will be there,” he added.
Currently, PSSI plans to hold Liga 1 Putri with 10 participants next year. Women’s Football Committee Chairperson Vivin Cahyani mentioned that the competition will focus on Java Island to reduce costs. “The target remains for Liga 1 clubs because it is related to AFC licensing. If they want to obtain the license, they must have a women’s football team,” Vivin said.
Fans and players alike are tired of the empty promises. “Players are tired of being promised that the Liga 1 Putri will be revived. Some are even thinking of switching professions or retiring,” one player said. The ongoing uncertainty has led many talented players to consider abandoning their football careers altogether.
In addition to calling for the immediate establishment of the Women’s League, supporters suggest that private entities could sponsor small teams and send them abroad for training. Programs similar to SAD, Primavera, or Garuda Select could be implemented for women’s teams, providing them with valuable experience and development opportunities.
In July 2023, Ratu Tisha stated, “We will wait for the kick-off of the Women’s League when the Japanese coach (Satoru Mochi) arrives.” However, this promise has yet to be fulfilled. In May 2024, Souraya Farina also reminded, “The chairman mentioned that the Women’s League is expected to start in 2026.”
During the match against Singapore, the “Liga Putri?” banner, which had been briefly rolled up, was unfurled again at the end of the game, accompanied by chants from supporters, “Where is the Women’s League? We want it now!” Supporters at Madya Stadium, Gelora Bung Karno Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday (May 28) evening, voiced their hope for a domestic league or competition to be established soon.
Despite the many challenges, there is still hope. Support from various parties is expected to help revive women’s football competitions in Indonesia, laying a strong foundation for the future of the Indonesian Women’s National Team. The passionate pleas from fans and players alike highlight the urgency of this issue, calling on PSSI to act now and not delay the revival of the Women’s League any longer.