Indra Sjafri: National Team Players At The Asian Games Filled With Four Generations

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - The coach of the Indonesian national team for the 2022 Asian Games, Indra Sjafri, explained that the squad in sports tournaments throughout Asia will be filled with the U-24 national team consisting of a combination of four generations of squads.

The four generations consist of the squad for the 2023 SEA Games U-22 national team in Cambodia, U-20 national team players who failed to participate in the U-20 World Cup, the U-24 squad or the 1999-born players, and senior players.

The selection of this squad, according to Indra, was considered because it received advice from the General Chair of the All-Indonesian Football Association, Erick Thohir.

"Mr. Chairman's advice is that the Asian Games are due to our gold medal. Automatically KOI and Kemenpora recommend participating in the Asian Games, otherwise they can't just participate. That's Mr. Ketum's suggestion to give awards to children who took part in the SEA Games yesterday plus yesterday's failed U-20 players, plus their really regulatory birth, namely the birth of 1999, "explained Indra when met by the media crew while monitoring the selection process for the U-17 national team at Persija Training Ground, Depok, West Java, quoted from Antara, Saturday, July 22.

"There are 32 participating teams divided into eight groups, born 1999, a maximum of 22 people registered with three goalkeepers and three senior players allowed," said Indra about the 2022 Asian Games regulations.

The 60-year-old man has handed over the U-24 Indonesian national team road map for the event which was held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8 to PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir to facilitate the work of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) or NOC Indonesia and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora).

"We have given the ROad map because the Asian Games are included in the multi-sport event. The role of KOI and Kemenpora is very there. That's why yesterday I finished the road map, I prepared for the completion of the Asian Games. For the technical TC I was discussing with my friends," said Indra.

Indra Sjafri was the coach of the U-19 national team at the 2018 U-19 Asian Cup in Indonesia, which at that time was inhabited by names such as Asnawi Mangkualam, Egy Maulana Vikri, Saddil Ramdani, Witan Sulaeman, Syahrian Abimanyu to Rachmat Irianto.

The U-19 Asian Cup, which at that time was a qualifying event for the 2019 U-20 World Cup, Merah Putih, was stopped in the quarter-finals after being defeated by the U-19 Japanese national team with a score of 0-2. At that time the young Blue Samurai team was inhabited by a winger who is now strengthening Real Socied, Tafekusa Kubo.

The 1999 birth was the team that I brought in in 2018, which at that time we entered the last eight of Asia. It's only a step away from entering the World Cup. I think the quality of the current Asian team is Kubo cs in Japan, Asnawi cs in Indonesia, this is quite competitive. I'm very sure we can talk there later," said Indra about his team's chances at the Asian Games later, "said Indra.

Furthermore, Indra has deposited 44 names of Indonesian U-24 national team players to the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) and is now waiting for the progress of approval from each club regarding the players he chose for the 2022 Asian Games.

"It's been (communication to the club) one by one. All clear players are like Arhan, Marselino, Asnawi. It's just a matter of what from the club is because intense communication is needed," said Indra.