Jakarta. Indonesia celebrated the first gold medal in SEA Games football in 32 years with a parade in the capital city on Friday.

Thousands of fans cheered the convoy of buses carrying members of the U-22 squad who defeated Thailand 5-2 in the dramatic final in Phnom Penh on Tuesday to end the title drought for more than three decades.

Standing on an open-top bus, the players were given a heroes’ welcome during the parade which began from the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry headquarters, aired live by BTV news broadcaster.

Police imposed traffic restrictions along Sudirman and Thamrin streets as the convoy moved slowly to the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout where a sea of fans were waiting for the players.

“Well done boys!” a fan shouted from the crowd. “Indonesia, Indonesia!” others said.

The parade ended at the Senayan Sports Complex after a trip of 12 kilometers for around two hours. 

“This is not our last victory but it won’t be easy to defend the title,” Indonesian Football Association Chairman Erick Thohir told the fans.

He said the young squad will take a short break before returning to the training camp in preparation for the Asian Games scheduled from September 23-October 8 in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.

The celebration also involved other athletes who won medals in Cambodia, such as the women’s basketball team who won their first-ever gold medal in the SEA Games.

But they were placed in different vehicles behind the bus that carried the football squad such as captain Rizky Ridho, forward player Ramadhan Sananta who scored two goals in the final match, and coach Indra Sjafri. They stood alongside Erick and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo.

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