Heavy Indonesian National Team Players Must Fast During U-20 World Cup Preparation, Shin Tae-yong Will Meet Religious Leaders

The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong. (Photo: Twitter/@PSSI)

JAKARTA - The U-20 Indonesian national team is undergoing preparations for the U-20 World Cup which will take place in May. In the midst of this preparation, the national team will be faced with the month of Ramadan 1444 H which will start on March 23.

For players who are Muslim, it is their obligation to fast. However, coach Shin Tae Yong expects Muslim players to be able to change their fast on another day.

"It's a bit difficult for me too. Because the players should be able to eat on time. If they don't have to run and compete, it's a bit difficult for the players," said coach Shin when met on the sidelines of the senior national team training and the U-20 national team at the PTIK Stadium, Jakarta, Monday.

To that end, coach Shin said he would communicate with competent parties to find solutions to the problem.

"So I really have to coordinate with religious leaders and players first so that I can focus on the day of the match, and one day before. Let us focus on the match," said Shin.

"It means we still eat without fasting, maybe those fasting days may be replaced after the fasting period is over. For that, it must be discussed again with the players and religious leaders later," added the man from South Korea.

The U-20 national team players will take part in the training camp until next April. The training camp program will take place in Jakarta and South Korea.

In total, there are currently 29 players prepared for the U-20 World Cup, with the majority of players who participated in defending Indonesia in the U-20 Asian Cup earlier this month. There is still one more name that has not joined to undergo a training camp, namely Marselino Ferdinand who is still defending his club in the Belgian League, namely KMSK Deinze.