Involve US Marine Coach, U-20 Indonesian National Team Beaten By Unusual Material

JAKARTA - The U-20 Indonesian national team again held exercises in the training camp (TC) agenda in Jakarta.

Taking place at one of the fitness centers at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, afternoon WIB, Indra Sjafri's squad underwent different heavy trainings than usual.

Led directly by Indra Sjafri as the head coach, as many as 30 players present seemed enthusiastic about following the direction of the fitness coach who was also accompanied by adrenaline generating music.

In a session that lasted more than an hour, there were four training methods that Indonesia U-20 underwent.

They are divided into four groups. The players undergo training by pulling the load using a ski-erg. This exercise functions to strengthen the muscles of the hands and thighs.

In addition, there is a static bicycle exercise to increase stamina. There is also a rope slam exercise by swinging a large rope and prowler push practice which requires players to push the bes as far as 10 meters.

Indra Sjafri himself admitted that the training this time was indeed different from the U-20 Indonesian national team's trainings on the previous TC agenda.

In order to improve the team's performance, he did not hesitate to cooperate with the United States marine coach in training Garuda Muda's preparations.

"So, today from the periodization of the exercise we have prepared, we actually wanted from a few months ago the handling of a gym that didn't enter the conventional gym as it could."

"However, it is more of a more specific sport performance," said Indra Sjafri when he led the training at SUGBK on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

"Kami kemudian sepakat dengan coach Elberino Tiwa (Albert) dari Empire Fit Club membantu pelatih fisik saya untuk berkoordinasi meningkatkan performa anak-anak."

"He is a US marine trainer who brings marine coaching to be applied to football athlete training and others," said Indra.

Indra Sjafri considered the selection of this unusual exercise material as preparation to make the team perform optimally.

Not only training to improve skills, the coach also pays attention to players' food intake and treatment after injury.

"Of course we did this because we wanted to prepare the U-20 Indonesian national team as well as possible. Last month we improved their running technique with national runners.

"Tomorrow, we will protest and later supervise the problem of nutrition and treatment after injury," said Indra.

"So, I will do my best to prepare the U-20 Indonesian national team to the target we have wanted," he said.

All the hard preparations made by Indra Sjafri were not without reason. The reason is, the U-20 Indonesian national team will take part in the 2024 Toulon Tournament in France.

The tournament was attended as a preparation for them to appear in the 2024 AFF U-19 Cup and the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers.