Indonesian Futsal Federation Extends Coach Hector Souto's Contract

KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian Futsal Federation (FFI) has officially extended coach Hector Souto's contract until 2028 to maintain the national team's positive trend.

This move is a long-term strategy to make Indonesia more competitive in the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup and the 2028 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Futsal World Cup.

FFI Chairman Michael Victor Sianipar emphasized that this decision is part of a grand vision for national futsal development. Hector Souto has led Indonesia to win the 2024 AFF Futsal Championship title and finish as runner-up in the 2025 4Nations World Series.

"This long-term contract is different from previous ones, which were only extended annually," he said at FFI Official, on Friday, March 21, 2025, as quoted by rri.co.id.

"With stable leadership, it is hoped that the national team's performance will continue to improve until it can compete at the world level."

In addition to targeting the 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup, this contract extension is also part of the preparation for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup. As the host of the tournament, Indonesia wants to perform optimally and achieve commendable results.

Hector Souto, the Indonesian national futsal team coach, was born in Chantada, Lugo, Spain, on December 7, 1981. He welcomed this contract extension and is committed to taking Indonesian futsal to a higher level.

According to Hector, the main focus of his long-term program is to improve player quality from youth to senior level. In addition, he is also preparing a more mature game strategy to face upcoming international competitions.

Since being appointed as the national team coach in August 2024, Hector has shown significant achievements. In a short time, he managed to build a solid team and was able to compete with strong teams in Asia.

The success of winning the 2024 AFF Futsal Championship title is proof that the national team is on the right track. In addition, the runner-up achievement in the 2025 4Nations World Series further solidified Indonesia's position on the international stage.

FFI is optimistic that with Hector's guidance, the national team will be better prepared to face major tournaments. Mature preparation and consistent play are key for Indonesia to compete at the world level. ***