Shin Tae-yong Watch Direct Sandy Walsh While Defending KV Mechelen

Sandy Walsh while defending KV Badminton (Instagram/@sandywalsh).

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team player who had a career in Europe, Sandy Walsh, received a direct visit from Shin Tae-yong. At that time, Sandy was playing for his team, KV Mechelen.

Shin Tae-yong was later discovered to be traveling around Europe monitoring his team. One of the players who received a visit from the South Korean coach was Sandy Walsh.

Shin Tae-yong was in the stands watching Sandy Walsh appear in front of KV Mechelen beating Cercle Brugge 3-2.

Even though Sandy Walsh only played for a while, he was very happy to know that Shin was watching himself play live in Saturday's match, March 2, 2024.

Sandy Walsh realized that Shin's presence could not be separated from the coach's efforts to find players to fill the Garuda Squad in the second round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Vietnam.

Realizing that he was one of the players visited, Walsh said he was happy and ready if his services were needed by the team.

"I am very ready for March 2024 (second round of 2026 World Cup Qualification). Very important against Vietnam," said Sandy Walsh.

"Coach Shin Tae-yong came here to watch the game. Very happy he came to Belgium, saw me play. So, very happy to see him, I really appreciate his support," Sandy was quoted as saying on his personal Youtube channel on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Sandy Walsh also met Shin Tae-yong after the match. In addition to taking pictures, the two were involved in serious conversations.

Sandy said that the coach emphasized that he still maintains his health so that he is fit ahead of the match between the Indonesian national team and Vietnam.

"He came and encouraged. He reminded him to stay fit ahead of the important match against Vietnam," said Sandy.

Apart from the meeting with Sandy Walsh, Shin Tae-yong also visited several other Indonesian national team players.

They are Marselino Ferdinand (KMSKDeinze/Belgium), Ivar Jenner (Jong FC Utrecht/Netherlands), and most recently Jay Idzes (Venzoia/Italy).

The match between the Indonesian national team vs Vietnam in the second round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification took place at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta, on March 21, 2024.

Then, the second match of the Garuda Squad will travel to My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, on March 26, 2024.

These two matches are very important for the Indonesian national team considering they have not won in the previous two matches.

The Indonesian national team will hold a training camp (TC) which is rumored to start on March 17, 2024 to prepare itself.