SEA Games 2023 Adapting New Rules Without Senior Players, Indra Sjafri Develops A Strategy For U-22 National Team Squad

Indonesia U-22 National Team Coach for the 2023 SEA Games, Indra Sjafri. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - The coach of the U-22 Indonesian national team, Indra Sjafri, has pocketed a strategy regarding the new rules at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. The new rules state that senior players may not be included in the sport of soccer.

Actually, at the 2021 SEA Games, this rule did not apply yet. Shin Tae-Yong as the coach of the national team at that time even brought three names such as Rachmat Irianto, Marc Klok, and Fachrudin Aryanto to the team.

Regarding the new rules for the SEA Games this year, Indra Sjafri has no problem with it. Because for him the main focus that will be built is to take advantage of the players in the squad.

"There are no senior players for the SEA Games this time (due to new regulations), so we are full of U-22 players born in 2001 and 2002," said Indra Sjafri after leading the U-22 national team training session on Thursday, March 2 at the Bung Karno Stadium.

The coach's calm and relaxed attitude regarding the rules is not without reason. Indra Sjafri feels he can handle it by choosing the right players to carry out tactics that are in line with his philosophy.

"We'll see later, what's certain is that every coach has his own game plan and philosophy, but what determines the quality (of the team) is the (performance) of the players," he said.

"We will start to build a core team that we will bring to Cambodia. Players that fit my philosophy," continued Indra Sjafri.

In preparation for appearing at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia from May 5-17, currently, the U-22 national team has entered its second day of training camp (TC). In total there were 34 names called by Indra Sjafri to try out the opportunity to fight for a place in the first team.

In this TC, which is filled with 60 percent of new faces, Indra Sjafri will divide the agenda into two waves. The first will be held on March 1-8, then there will be a second wave on March 9-16 to determine the final results of the players who are entitled to go to Cambodia.