The U-17 Indonesian National Team Is Harmed In Training By The Host Of Kuwait

JAKARTA - The training agenda for the U-17 Indonesian national team ahead of the inaugural match of the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification did not run smoothly. In the training session the day before the match, they were disturbed by the presence of young U-15 Kuwaiti players.

At that time, Garuda Muda was undergoing the final preparation agenda. However, the U-17 Indonesian national team coach, Nova Arianto, said that when his team was about to do a tactical exercise, they were actually disturbed by the presence of the U-15 Kuwait team who also trained on the field which was located next to each other.

"What is certain is that in my opinion, it doesn't make sense, yes. You see, once again we, the U-17 Indonesian national team, are training again and the time is official training," Nova said in an official statement quoted Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

"Although next door is (the) Kuwaiti born in 2009, I think if there was a national team (other countries) conducting official training that focused on tactics, there should have been no training team next to our field. However, that happened," Nova said again.

With this situation, the U-17 Indonesian national team was forced not to carry out tactical exercises in the final preparations. As a result, Nova inevitably ran the match against Kuwait U-17 with preparations not optimal.

In fact, according to Nova, his party has prepared several schemes in the match.

Nova said this situation was very disappointing because his party could only carry out training without specifics of honing tactics.

"Finally we can't do tactical training, what plans we made, including sets-pieces. You see, next to the Kuwaiti team was born in 2009."

"In my opinion, this is quite detrimental to me personally as a coach, but I ask players not to be influenced by this situation which should not happen," said Nova.

"Yes, like it or not, we change. We should enter tactical training, we change it by maintaining the intensity of practice so that players can fit. That is my focus," he said.

However, Nova remains optimistic that the U-17 Indonesian national team can run the match well if the players can focus.

Moreover, the opening match will also determine Indonesia's fate in the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification.

"I ask the players to stay focused and concentrate on whatever happens. Even though the team is harmed, I don't think that's an excuse for us," he said.