Anis Matta Cup 2026 Reaches Final Stage, Aims to Strengthen Gelora Jakarta Unity

STUPA NEWS ■ JAKARTA — The Anis Matta Cup (AM Cup) 2026 has reached its final stage. Held since January, the sporting event bringing together teams from the Gelora organization in Jakarta is not only being positioned as a football competition, but also as an opportunity to strengthen camaraderie and ties among officials across all levels of the organization.

Hazem Anis Matta, chairman of the Jakarta chapter of Gelora, wants the AM Cup to serve as a meeting point that brings together all elements of the organization, from the regional executive board (DPW) and district branches (DPD) to subdistrict and neighborhood-level structures (DPC and PAC).

The idea is central to the organization of the AM Cup's final event. Preparations were discussed at a coordination meeting held by the Jakarta Gelora executive board at Patra Kuningan in Jakarta on Aug. 11.

The meeting was attended by Hazem Anis Matta and members of the Jakarta executive board, Afiq Naufal, head of Gelora Muda (GM) Jakarta, and Tsabit, secretary of the 2026 AM Cup organizing committee.

For Hazem, the tournament provides an opportunity for officials to interact in a more informal setting. The football field brings members of the organization together in an atmosphere different from their routine organizational activities.

“The AM Cup should not be viewed merely as a football tournament. It should become a moment to build bonds, strengthen relationships and foster togetherness among Gelora officials, from the DPW, DPD, DPC to PAC levels,” he said.

The semifinals and final of the 2026 AM Cup will be held at Triboon Mini Soccer in South Jakarta on Sunday, Aug. 16.

Four teams will compete for the championship, including two teams from South Jakarta's DPD, one team from West Jakarta's DPD and one representative from Gelora Muda.

Teams that failed to qualify for the semifinals will also remain involved in the event. Representatives from East Jakarta, North Jakarta and Central Jakarta, as well as the DPW and DPP, will take part in exhibition matches.

The format reflects the organizers' intention to ensure that the AM Cup is not limited to teams that win and advance to the next round. Members from across the organization will continue to have opportunities to participate and gather together.

The organizers say the emphasis on camaraderie is as important as the competition itself. While the matches will be played competitively and in the spirit of sportsmanship, the event is also intended to strengthen personal relationships among officials through playing, socializing and spending time together.

Traditional games will also be held for mothers and children attending the event.

The final stage of the 2026 AM Cup is being held alongside celebrations marking Indonesia's 81st Independence Day.

Organizers have prepared a number of traditional August 17 games to create a more relaxed and festive atmosphere.

Activities include word communication games, cardboard-grabbing contests, sarong relay races and cardboard races. Fourteen door prizes, including an electric motorcycle, television sets and mobile phones, have also been prepared.

The activities are designed to encourage officials not only to attend the football matches but also to interact and take part in the broader gathering.

The AM Cup is also intended to bring Jakarta's Gelora organizational structures together in a more informal environment.

While officials typically meet through organizational meetings, political activities and other formal events, the tournament provides an opportunity to interact through sport and entertainment.

Organizers hope these informal interactions will strengthen personal relationships and, in turn, support cooperation within the organization.

Attendance targets have also been set. Each DPD is expected to mobilize around 250 people, making the AM Cup's final event a large gathering for Gelora members and supporters across Jakarta.

Sport is the medium, while togetherness is the goal.

The organizers say this is what gives the 2026 AM Cup a broader purpose beyond football. The semifinals and final, exhibition matches, traditional Independence Day games and door prizes have been combined into a single event designed to bring together members of Gelora's organizational structure.

The 2026 AM Cup is expected to conclude with more than a champion being crowned on the field. Organizers also hope the event will strengthen ties among members of the broader Gelora community in Jakarta.

The combination of sport, entertainment and social activities is intended to create closer communication among officials at different levels of the organization.

The organizers believe the event demonstrates that organizational sports activities need not be defined solely by winning and losing. Strong organizations, they say, are also built through personal relationships, open communication and a sense of togetherness developed through face-to-face interaction.

The 2026 AM Cup is expected to become one of the occasions through which Gelora Jakarta can strengthen those ties.(Gusti Haes)