SEA Games TC Not Included On FIFA's Agenda, Shin Tae-Yong Has Difficulty To Call Players Grazing Abroad

Shin Tae-yong (second from left) (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-Yong admitted that he had difficulty calling on players playing abroad to attend the training camp (TC) for the 2021 SEA Games preparation in February 2021.

On the PSSI TV Youtube channel in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 10, Shin revealed that one of the reasons was that the TC 2021 SEA Games preparation was not included in the official FIFA match period.

In addition, Shin said that it was rather complicated for Indonesian players abroad to return to their countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

"There are many challenges to travel during the pandemic. Their club will definitely not give permission either," said the South Korean tactician.

According to Shin, that is the reason why all the players called TC SEA Games 2021 on February 8-28 2021 are from Liga 1 and Liga 2 Indonesia.

This moment was also used by Shin to see the performance of national footballers with careers in the country.

"We want to focus on seeing the quality of players from the domestic league," said Shin.

There are several Indonesian players abroad who can actually take part in the 2021 TC SEA Games such as Egy Maulana (Lechia Gdansk, Poland), Witan Sulaeman (Radnik Surdulica, Serbia), Elkan Baggott (Ipswich Town, England), Amiruddin Bagas (FC Utrecht, Netherlands) and Khairul Imam Zakiri (selection at CP Villarrobledo, Spain).

Shin himself called 36 players to prepare for the 2021 SEA Games in Jakarta on February 8-28, 2021.

However, in the process, two players, namely Saddam Gaffar and Firza Andika, were unable to join because they had to undergo a test to enter the Indonesian Air Force. Saddam's position was replaced by Kahar Kalu Muzakkar.

The 2021 SEA Games are scheduled to take place from November to December in Vietnam.

PSSI is targeting a gold medal from this event in order to repeat a similar achievement that was last achieved in 1991.

Based on the SEA Games regulations in 2019, every men's football team must be reinforced by players with a maximum age of 22 years (U-22) and a maximum of two senior players who are over 22 years old.