Not Targeted, The Indonesian National Team Has A More Important Mission At The 2023 Asian Games

PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team was not given a target at the 2023 Asian Games. The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has a long-term goal.

The Hangzhou Asian Games will take place from September 23 to October 8. The Indonesian national team will be led by Indra Sjafri.

Indra was asked to prioritize the young players. This was conveyed by the Chairman of PSSI, Erick Thohir, who highlighted the importance of improving the quality and career of young players for the national team.

"For the Asian Games, we agree that Coach Indra Sjafri will hold (train the U-22 national team) and will prioritize young players so that they have a level of improving the quality of players and they will also have confidence," said Erick, as reported by Antara.

"We are targeting nothing at the Asian Games. We want our young team to be prepared to prepare for the senior national team level," continued the man who is also the Minister of SOEs.

Erick hopes that the opportunity given to the age group national team in international matches can spur higher enthusiasm towards the Asian Cup, even the Olympics.

"In the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers in Solo, if we qualify in September then we will play in the U-23 Asian Cup in May (next year) in Doha. If we also enter certain rankings, where will we play? To the 2024 Olympics. Yes, we are trying. We use Asian Games and AFF to prepare for bigger dreams, after all, our SEA Games have won," he said.

Meanwhile, the senior national team will be coached by Shin Tae-yong for the 2023 AFF U-23 Cup and 2024 U-23 Asian Cup Qualification.

"For the AFF U-23 Cup, U-23 Asian Cup Qualification, the senior Indonesian national team is under Coach Shin Tae-yong," said Erick.

In addition, Shin also took part in training and preparing the national team for the FIFA Matchday in September and the first round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in October.

"We can only try at this time but we still have to be well prepared, we have to follow procedures and preparations so that our young players are not injured too. This must be maintained because there is a golden generation, so we should not force and regret it in the future," said Erick.