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The government is not giving the national football team any excuse to fail at next year’s Southeast Asian Games.

Five state-owned companies pledged on Tuesday to provide support to the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) in its quest to win the gold medal at next year’s Games, which Indonesia will host.

Last month, 59 SOEs signed a memorandum of understanding with 39 national sports federations to support sports development through a “foster parent program,” in which the companies would help fund their chosen federations

The five companies that have agreed to support the PSSI are Bank Mandiri, Telekomunikasi Indonesia, coal producer Bukit Asam, cement maker Semen Padang and energy firm Pertamina.

Two other federations expected to produce medals at the Games — the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) and the Indonesian Weightlifting, Bodybuilding and Powerlifting Association (Pabbsi) — will be supported by two SOEs each.

Railway operator Kereta Api and plantation firm Perkebunan Nusantara will help finance Pabbsi programs, while Semen Padang and Pertamina will back the PBSI.

But the PSSI has secured the support of more SOEs than any other federation, although football officials are reluctant to guarantee the national team will win gold at the SEA Games.

“We just want to work hard and put our best effort into the SEA Games. Beyond that, we cannot comment,” PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid said.

“I know our football team hasn’t had good results. There’s a lot of work to do. We will sit down with these companies and discuss specifics.

“We prefer to spend the funds from these companies for youth development, as the national team is already getting funds from the government budget.”

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Swimming Association (PRSI) will be supported by insurance company Jasindo, toll road operator Jasa Marga and shipbuilder PAL.

The other federations that have secured the backing of more than one state enterprise are the Indonesian Cycling Union (ISSI), the Indonesian Table Tennis Association (PTMSI) and the Indonesian Bowling Federation (PBI).

The ISSI will be supported by Telekomunikasi Indonesia and mobile-phone service provider Telkomsel; PTMSI by airport operator Angkasa Pura I and postal service Pos Indonesia; and the PBI by gas distributor Perusahaan Gas Negara and pawnshop company Perum Pegadaian.

Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Andi Malarangeng said he hoped private companies would also take the initiative to support national sports development.

“What we achieve in international tournaments is representative of our image as a nation,” Andi said on Tuesday.

“We hope this will start a trend where local firms, state-owned or not, will start getting behind our sports programs.”

Mustafa Abubaka, minister for state enterprises, said companies would also be rewarded based on how many gold medals their respective federations won at the SEA Games.

“But if a federation does not meet our expectations, we may cut our support and give it to another federation,” he said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia was targeting 150 gold medals at the Games, including in football.

Indonesia has not won a SEA Games gold in football since 1991.