PSSI Gives A Signal Nathan Tjoe-A-On Absent From Defending Indonesia U-23 In The Quarter-Finals Of The U-23 Asian Cup

Nathan Tjoe-A-On leaves the U-23 Indonesian national team (Instagram/@nathantjoeaon).

JAKARTA - Nathan Tjoe-A-On returned to his club, SC Heerenveen, in the Netherlands after helping the U-23 Indonesian national team qualify for the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup quarter-finals. Nathan's return to the Netherlands was later confirmed by PSSI.

Through PSSI Executive Committee Member Arya Sinulingga, Nathan did immediately return to the Netherlands after appearing to defend the U-23 Indonesian national team at the last group stage against Jordan U-23.

This turned out to be related to the limited permit given by SC Heerenveen.

Arya Sinulingga revealed that actually Nathan was released to the U-23 Indonesian national team through tough negotiations. After the General Chairperson (Ketum) of PSSI, Erick Thohir, lobbied the Dutch club, finally Nathan was able to join, but on condition that it only reached the group stage.

"Indeed, initially PSSI lobbied for Nathan's club (SC Heerenveen). From the results of the lobby, it was hard at first to release Nathan," said Arya Sinulingga explaining in a statement quoted on Monday, April 22, 2024.

The chairman of PSSI has made maximum efforts so that Nathan can move closer to the U-23 Indonesian national team. The federation finally agreed with the conditions set by the club.

"The chairman (General PSSI) asked directly to at least qualify for the last eight of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup because our initial target was there," said Arya Sinulingga.

"The chairman of the business is right so that Nathan can play and achieve the target that has been targeted at the U-23 Indonesian national team coach, Shin Tae-yong," he said.

Given the agreement made between PSSI and SC Heerenveen, Nathan did have to return after the group's last match on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

"Now we have passed the group and that is what we are lobbying Nathan's club, the business we are making," he said.

With the promise to repatriate Nathan after the group phase, it is likely that the U-23 Indonesian national team will appear without the 22-year-old player in the quarter-finals of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup.

This situation is a challenge in itself because after defeating Jordan U-23, Garuda Muda will face the Group B champion between South Korea and Japan.