Welber Jardim not included in Indonesia U-20 squad, Indra Sjafri alludes to absenteeism?

JAKARTA - The U-20 Indonesian national team coach, Indra Sjafri, answered about the absence of Welfer Jardim's name in the squad ahead of the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualification. The coach said that the team had actually sent a summons to Welber.

Before giving a summons, Indra Sjafri emphasized that Sao Paulo as the club welber played in Brazil had declared releasing the player.

In order to facilitate accommodation, PSSI has also provided tickets to the 17-year-old player so that they can immediately get closer to the team in the country. However, Indra Sjafri said that until the end of registration, Welber did not come.

"In principle, the Welfer Jardim (Sao Paulo) club has released him from joining the Indonesian national team."

"We have bought the tickets. However, until the final seconds of registration, he did not come," said Indra Sjafri during a press conference at the Madya Stadium on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.

Welber Jardim's summons to the U-20 Indonesian national team cannot be separated from the agenda that will be faced in the near future. Indra Sjafri's team will appear in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualification which will take place on September 25-29, 2024 in Jakarta.

Joined in Group F, the U-20 Indonesian national team will compete with the Maldives, Yemen, and Timor Leste.

Ahead of the inaugural match against the Maldives on September 25, 2024 at the Madya Stadium, Indra Sjafri has officially released 23 players he has called to strengthen the team.

After it was discovered that Welber Jardim would not participate, Indra Sjafri did not worry and bother.

Although Welber is a mainstay player in the age group, the coach said that the team did not want to depend on one name.

"For me, the coaching team, we don't want to depend on one or two players. If Welber doesn't exist, other players must be able to replace him."

"The team and I agree with the chairman of PSSI (Erick Thohir) that in every position there must be four players in it. So, it doesn't matter if Welber doesn't exist because others exist and can replace it," he said.