Indonesian National Team Legend, Ronny Pasla, Dies

JAKARTA - The legend of the Indonesian National Team (Timnas), Ronny Pasla, died on Monday, November 24, 2025, early morning WIB. The former Garuda squad goalkeeper died at the age of 79 in Jakarta.

The plan is that Ronny's body will be buried at the Central Jakarta Evangelical Church. After that, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, it will be buried at Pondok Kelapa Cemetery.

With the full name Ronald Gustaf Pasla, he was the main goalkeeper of the Indonesian national team in the late 1960s to the 1970s. Some of Ronny's achievements with the Garuda Squad, among others, won the 1967 Aga Khan Gold Cup, the 1969 Merdeka Tournament, and the 1972 Singapore Sukan Cup.

While in the Indonesian national team uniform, one of Ronny's most memorable actions by the football public was playing against Brazilian club Santos in a friendly match in 1972.

Although the Indonesian national team lost 1-2 to Santos, Ronny was able to hold back the Brazilian legend, Pele, and made some good saves.

At the club level, Ronny has defended several clubs, namely Dinamo Medan, PSMS Medan, Persija Jakarta, and Indonesia Muda. Ronny was recorded as taking part in bringing Persija to win the United Competition in 1975.

Before being serious in soccer, Ronny was known to have started his career as a tennis athlete. He was even recorded as representing North Sumatra Province as a tennis athlete for the 1965 National Sports Week (PON) VII. However, due to the G30S tragedy, the PON failed to take place.

After retiring as a footballer at the age of 40, Ronny also had time to return to tennis. He is known to have had a tennis school called Velodrom Tennis School in Jakarta.