KUPANG - A prestigious football tournament in the entire East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province is once again being held. The Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Faculty of Agriculture (Faperta), supported by the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Agriculture at Nusa Cendana University (Ikadana Faperta), is hosting the Faperta Cup XXXVI football competition for the year 2023.
The opening ceremony of the Faperta Cup XXXVI event took place at the "Bela Nagara" football field at Undana on the evening of Monday, October 3rd, 2023.
Undana's Rector, Prof. Dr. drh. Maxs U. E. Sanam, M.Sc, was honored as the first kicker to kick off the opening match between Muhammadiyah University Kupang and the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) of Artha Wacana Christian University Kupang, which was directly officiated by Referee Thobias Bessi.
Under the theme "Strengthening Solidarity to Achieve Victory," 24 teams will showcase their tactics and skills to compete for the trophy and coaching prize money. Among these 24 teams, 18 represent higher education institutions, while the remaining 6 teams are from high schools in the NTT Province.
Present at the opening ceremony were the Vice Rector II for General Affairs and Finance, Dr. Paul G. Tamelan, M.Si, Vice Rector IV for Planning, Cooperation, and Information Systems, Prof. Dr. Jefri S. Bale, M.Si, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Undana, Dr. Muhammad S. M. Nur, M.Si, Head of Undana's Research and Community Service Institute (LPPPM), Dr. Jacobus M. Ratu, M.Kes, Chair of the Ikadana Faperta, alumni of Faperta, members of the Undana Student Council, and hundreds of Undana students.
Undana's Rector, Prof. Maxs, in his speech, expressed appreciation for the committee's hard work in organizing the Faperta Cup football tournament. He said, "I appreciate Faperta Undana; 36 years is not a short period. It requires discipline and commitment. I believe Faperta Undana has already made Undana impactful since the inception of this tournament."
According to him, sports should be used as a platform to enhance soft skills, especially for the committee members. He even encouraged that some of the activities carried out by the committee could be converted into credit-bearing courses within the Credit Transfer System (MBKM). Undana's Rector stated, "This is an opportunity to improve soft skills, which can then be converted into course credits within the MBKM program."
Prof. Maxs added that individuals who love sports will reflect these values in their lives, including honesty, discipline, sportsmanship, resilience, orderliness, maintaining friendships, and solidarity.
"Therefore, let us together achieve victory through sportsmanship in the spirit of solidarity and togetherness," he concluded.
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Undana, Dr. Muhammad S. M. Nur, M.Si, expressed his appreciation and pride for the committee members involved. He also hoped that the hundreds of students involved in the organizing committee would have the opportunity to enhance their soft skills, especially in organizing, directing, and coordinating the event.
He also expressed gratitude to the leadership of Undana and the partners who supported the organization of the Faperta Cup. He emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and solidarity in the matches. "Whatever the result, it is a part of our collective effort," he concluded.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Marselinus Anggur Ngganggus, Secretary I of the Kupang City Football Association (PSSI Askot Kupang). He also appreciated the committee's hard work in organizing the tournament. He believed that Faperta Cup XXXVI is a tournament that revitalizes football in the city of Kupang.
He also expressed his appreciation because Undana has football field facilities, and he suggested that improvements, especially to the field grass, should be considered in the future.
He mentioned that in the matches, solidarity and sportsmanship should be upheld, but at the same time, victory should be pursued. Therefore, he hoped that all teams would adhere to the laws of the game, as led by the referees. His message to the referees was to act as guardians for the players on the field.
Metri Sarlenci Pong, the Chairperson of the Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Faculty of Agriculture at Undana, stated that the Faperta Cup event is one of the programs of BEM Faperta Undana for the year 2023.
"This event has been held regularly every year since 1985, except for the years 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.
"Thank you for the support from the Rector, Dean, and all the sponsors who have contributed to the success of the Faperta Cup XXXVI event," he continued.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Faperta Cup XXXVI Committee, Gregorius Umbu Neka Jara Woli, reported that the Faperta Cup XXXVI event in 2023 was participated in by a total of 24 teams, consisting of 6 teams representing high schools (Sekolah Menengah Atas or SMA) and 18 teams from various universities in the NTT Province.
"Faperta Cup XXXVI will take place from October 3 to November 4, 2023, at the 'Bela Negara' football field at Undana Kupang," he added.
He mentioned that the Faperta Cup XXXVI event is sponsored by Bank NTT, Bank Bukopin, Honda, and the mobile carrier Tri (3).
For your information, the result of the match between the Muhammadiyah University Kupang team and the team from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Artha Wacana University (UKAW) Kupang ended in a 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, for today's matches on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, FKIP UCB will face FST Undana from 14:30 to 16:00, and the match between Stikom Uyelindo Kupang and FPKP Undana will take place from 16:00 to 17:30 WITA. (rfl)
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