Bringing The National Team To 2020 AFF Cup Runner Up, Shin Tae-yong Gets Special Orders From Jokowi

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team was able to prove their toughness in the 2020 AFF Cup to reach the runner-up position. This achievement could not be separated from the intervention of the tactician, Shin Tae-yong.

The South Korean coach was able to cultivate the mentality of the Garuda squad, which is mostly filled with young players. After competing in the prestigious soccer competition in Southeast Asia, Shin Tae-yong immediately received a special order from the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.

Quoted from the South Korean media, Yonhap, Tuesday, December 4, the coach initially revealed that Jokowi congratulated him for what he had done. The statement was conveyed through the General Chairperson of Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Mochamad Iriawan.

"We have fought very well," said Shin Tae-yong, imitating Jokowi's comments.

But apparently not only that, Jokowi also left a special message for Shin Tae-yong. The message was in the form of an order that after the AFF competition, Shin Tae-yong could concentrate more on preparing for another big agenda, namely the U-20 World Cup.

"(Jokowi asked) to concentrate on preparing for the 2023 U-20 World Cup from now on," the 51-year-old coach added.

The U-20 World Cup will be held in 2023, where Indonesia has the opportunity to host.

With that moment, Shin Tae-yong clearly had to make the best of it. Because not only maintain a good status as a host but also as a peak achievement of his career.

Shin Tae-yong's contract with the Indonesian national team itself will indeed end after this agenda. In fact, when they first worked together, Shin Tae-yong's main target was indeed projected to appear in the U-20 World Cup.

With that background, Shin Tae-yong remains confident to survive in Indonesia even though the 2020 AFF Cup has been completed. The reason is, he is still under contract until the end of 2023.