Arema FC Still Has Difficulty Finding Local Strikers For Liga 1 2023/2024

Arema FC Squad in Liga 1 2022/2023. (New Indonesian League)

JAKARTA - Arema FC coach Joko Susilo said his team had difficulty finding local strikers for the Indonesian League 1 competition next season despite having held an open selection.

Quoted from the official website of the Indonesian League, Sunday, Joko said that of the hundreds of players who took part in the open selection program, not many were positioned as attackers.

Joko explained that this condition made his choice when holding a match session in the selection to be limited.

"We have divided the two teams, there is nostriker position. This seems very difficult if we have difficulty with the protocol itself. I believe it will be the same in the National level," said Joko.

Currently Arema FC is looking for the original Malang striker after previously having Dedik Setiawan and Kushedya Hari Yudo.

Joko said players who take part in this selection program must at least have a fairly good ability from a physical, technical and tactical perspective as a criterion to be part of the Arema FC squad next season.

The former coach of Persik Kediri said that his party limited the quota of players who participated in the open selection program so that the coaching team could really select the best talents who participated in the selection program.

Most of the players who take part in the open selection have no experience in playing League 1 and more struggling in amateur competitions.

Even so, for him it will not make all players who take part in the open selection program from Malang will be taken all and there will be players who have the potential to be polished to appear in League 1.

"We limit it because the quota should not be too much, so it will not be effective. Later there will be a selection but in the form of an invitation, meaning that we have seen the quality or through a talent scouting that we believe in," Joko explained as quoted by Antara.

"They don't play in League 1 because they don't play in League 1. But what we are looking for is how he has the potential in League 1," he said.