Can Build A Team, Bima Sakti Continues To Train The U-16 National Team

Milky Way (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - PSSI has hinted that Bima Sakti will continue to train the U-16 national team after successfully bringing its squad to win the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup.

"We will still be escorted by coach Bima. Later we will look for the next U-16 national team player," said PSSI chairman Mochamad Iriawan at the Maguwoharjo Stadium, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Friday, August 12 night.

According to the man who is familiarly called Iwan Bule, the Milky Way has succeeded in carrying out its duties. In addition to bringing the U-16 national team champions, Bima Sakti can also build a team atmosphere that is full of kinship.

"The children are very close. They eat together, pray as well. Then, parents are also presented in the final," said Iriawan as quoted by Antara.

Bima Sakti has been trusted to handle the Indonesian U-16 national team since December 2018. He came to the squad nicknamed Garuda Asia to replace Fakhri Husaini.

In the process, Bima managed to bring his squad to qualify for the 2020 U-16 Asian Cup after becoming the second best team in qualifying.

In the qualification, Indonesia was unbeaten and even able to match China 0-0. However, the 2020 U-16 Asian Cup was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then, in his first experience at the U-16 AFF Cup, precisely in 2019, Bima presented the third position for Indonesia. Three years later, the 1990s Indonesian national team player led his squad to win the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup.

Next, Bima will take his foster children through the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification on 1-9 October 2022.

In the qualification, Indonesia joined in Group B with Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Palestine and Guam.

Indonesia will host all the Group B matches. However, PSSI has not decided at which stadium the matches will be held.

Later, the 10 group winners and the five best second-placed qualifications will be entitled to appear in the finals with the host of the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, Bahrain.