������Ƶ

The opening ceremony began with a report from the Chair of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Agung Dwi Juniarsyah, S.Pd., M.Or. He stated that this year’s Wiranto Arismunandar Cup was attended by 21 teams from various regions across West Java, including Bandung City, Bandung Regency, West Bandung Regency, and Cimahi City.

The competition features two age categories, U-10 and U-12, with a total of 616 players, consisting of 610 male players and 6 female players.

“This tournament is designed to ensure that every player receives equal playing opportunities. We want to make sure that no child is merely warming the bench, so that all participants can develop optimally,” said Dr. Agung.

He also expressed his appreciation to all parties who supported the successful organization of the event, including the family of the late Prof. Ir. Wiranto Arismunandar, UPT Saraga and Sabuga, the ������Ƶ of Pharmacy, the West Java Provincial Football Association (PSSI West Java), as well as sponsors.

A Platform for Development and a Sporting Tradition in Bandung

^{Teams competing in the 2025 Wiranto Arismunandar Cup (Photo: ITB Public Relations/M. Naufal Hafizh)}

Representing the extended family of the late Prof. Ir. Wiranto Arismunandar, Prof. Eko Kusbudiardjo conveyed his gratitude to ITB for its consistency in organizing the tournament, which has now reached its 27th edition.

“The Wiranto Arismunandar Cup is not merely a competition, but has become a sporting tradition in the city of Bandung. Beyond winning or losing, this event fosters mental resilience, teamwork, and sportsmanship among the participants,” he stated.

ITB Promotes Sportsmanship and Character Building
The Head of UPT Saraga and Sabuga ITB, Dr. Taufik Mulyanto, S.T., emphasized in his remarks that sports activities within the ITB environment are aimed not only at improving physical fitness, but also at building character and social intelligence among children.

“Coming to Saraga and Sabuga is not only about being healthy, but also about becoming smarter in strategy, collaboration, and building friendships,” he said.

Officially Opened by the Rector of ITB

^{Opening ceremony by the Rector of ITB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T.}

The tournament was officially opened by the Rector of ITB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T. In his address, the Rector reminded participants to uphold the values of sportsmanship and to view the tournament as a platform for togetherness.

“Please strive to win, but always uphold sportsmanship. Make the Wiranto Arismunandar Cup a place to learn, play, and build friendships,” he remarked.

The opening ceremony was marked by the recitation of the basmalah and the symbolic handover of the match ball to the Head Referee, signaling the official start of the competition.

Enthusiasm of Young Participants and the Story of a Young Female Goalkeeper

^{Participants of the 27th Wiranto Arismunandar Cup and the story of a young female goalkeeper (Photo: ITB Public Relations Reporter/Merryta Kusumawati)}

The enthusiasm of participants was evident in the spirit shown by the young players taking part in the 27th Wiranto Arismunandar Cup, including those from the Persib Academy. One of them was Misni Alin Fadilah, a seventh-grade student from Sumedang who plays as a goalkeeper.

Misni shared that her interest in football began as a way to fill her spare time. She initially joined a local football team in Sumedang before being recommended by her coach to join the Persib Academy.

“At first, I played for a team in Sumedang. Then my coach suggested that I join the Persib Academy because they needed a female goalkeeper,” she said.

According to Misni, joining the Persib Academy has provided her with a much more intensive training experience. She now undergoes regular training three times a week with more challenging and disciplined training sessions.

“The training is more exhausting, but it helps me grow,” she said.

The Wiranto Arismunandar Cup marked Misni’s first experience competing in a major tournament with the Persib Academy. Despite it being her first time, she expressed great enthusiasm and viewed the event as an opportunity to learn and improve her skills.

She also shared her aspiration to continue developing in football and hopes to one day become a national team player. Indonesian National Team goalkeeper Maarten Paes is one of her sources of inspiration to keep training and achieving excellence.

In addition to Misni, enthusiasm was also shown by Naquita Syahmina Guntara, a fourth-grade student from Lembang who has been part of the Persib Academy since the second grade of elementary school. Naquita said she was happy to take part in competitions between football schools (SSB) and considered the tournament a valuable experience to gain more match exposure.

“The event is exciting because I can meet and compete with many teams,” she said.

Through the Wiranto Arismunandar Cup, ITB not only provides a platform for sports competition, but also offers a space for character building, courage, and sportsmanship among children from an early age. The tournament is part of ITB’s commitment to supporting the development of young people’s potential through inclusive and sustainable sports.