Shin Tae-yong invites Ronaldo to Tajikistan

Photo via PSSI

JAKARTA - Indonesia coach, Shin Tae-Yong summoned Ronaldo Joybera Junior to train with the U-23 Indonesian national team in Tajikistan. Ronaldo did not expect to join the national team.

Quoted from the PSSI official website, Sunday, October 17, Garuda Muda did come early to Tajikistan to finalize preparations for the 2022 AFC U-23 Cup Qualification which will take place on 27-30 October.

Indonesia is in Group G with Australia alone, this is after Brunei Darussalam and China withdrew.

"At first I was surprised and couldn't believe that coach Shin Tae-Yong was called to the U-23 national team. For that I had to try hard and fight to get a place in the team later," said Ronaldo Kwateh, his nickname.

The player who was born on October 19, 2004, added that he is not inferior even though he is the youngest player in the current U-23 national team.

"I've learned a lot from more senior players. The team's condition is very good and compact. We are also ready to face Australia in the 2022 AFC U-23 Cup Qualifications," added the player from Madura United club.

In the BRI Liga 1 2021/2022 competition, Ronaldo has played six times and started three times. For a player of his age, the score is quite good in his professional career.

The U-23 Indonesian national team is still being trained by coach Shin Tae-Yong ahead of the 2022 AFC U-23 Cup Qualification. In this event, Indonesia will face Australia with a two-match system on 27 and 30 October in Tajikistan.

The Garuda squad since Thursday (14/10) has been in Tajikistan to adapt to the weather and finalize the strategy. If it successfully passes Australia, Garuda Muda will appear in the 2022 AFC U-23 Cup finals in Uzbekistan.

"Currently we continue to mature the players in high-tempo training. The conditions of the players are all okay. We continue to adapt to the field, because the grass used in the match later is synthetic," said Shin Tae-Yong.

The South Korean coach added that the adaptation process on artificial turf was like feeling passing, turning the body, controlling the ball on the field.

"We are also still waiting for players who have not joined (Feby Eka, Eka Febri, Beckham Putra, Nathanael, Irsan Lestaluhu, and Rachmat Irianto). For Braif, he canceled his trip to Tajikistan because he was still injured," added Shin Tae-Yong.