After Bringing Indonesia U-19 Champion, Indra Sjafri Answered Kans Help Shin Tae-yong In The Senior National Team

Indra Sjafri has the opportunity to help Shin Tae-yong in the senior Indonesian national team (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The U-19 Indonesian national team coach, Indra Sjafri, successfully led his team to win the 2024 AFF U-19 Cup. After this success, the news broke out that Indra Sjafri would have a position equal to Shin Tae-yong in the senior Indonesian national team.

Indra Sjafri is said to be helping Shin Tae-yong to lead the Garuda Squad which will be divided into two teams. This is related to the agenda of competing in the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers and the 2024 AFF Cup in November 2024.

For the 2026 World Cup Qualification agenda, the Indonesian national team squad will be led by Shin Tae-yong. Meanwhile, for the team that will appear in the 2024 AFF Cup in the same month, the figure of the coach who will accompany the team is still a question mark.

This situation then made the name Indra Sjafri appear as a candidate to fill the chair. Moreover, Indra Sjafri has just succeeded in bringing Indonesia U-19 to the title.

"As a good Indonesian citizen, whatever PSSI offers, of course I can't refuse it," said Indra Sjafri about the opportunity to help Shin Tae-yong deal with the Indonesian national team, quoted on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

Indra Sjafri's cold hands in dealing with the team are unquestionable. In addition to just bringing Indonesia U-19 to win the 2024 AFF U-19 Cup trophy after 11 years of waiting, the 61-year-old coach also has a series of other flashy notes.

The 2013 AFF U-19 Cup became the first title contributed by Indra Sjafri to Indonesia. The certainty of the champion was obtained by defeating Vietnam on penalties in the final which took place in Sidoarjo.

The second trophy was won at the 2019 AFF U-22 Cup at Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Four years later, Indra Sjafri brought Indonesia to win the 2023 SEA Games men's soccer gold medal by beating Thailand 5-2.

The 2024 AFF U-19 Cup is the latest title presented by Indra Sjafri to Indonesia. Competing at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Monday, July 29, 2024, WIB night, Indonesia's victory was confirmed through Jens Raven's single goal in the 17th minute.

"I am very grateful for this achievement. I would like to thank all the players, coaching staff, and PSSI for supporting this team extraordinaryly," said Indra Sjafri.

For the coach, this victory is certainly a motivation to work even better. You see, Indonesia U-19's main target is to pass the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualification.

Garuda Muda is in Group F with Yemen, Maldives, and Timor Leste which will start on September 17, 2024. "The 2024 AFF U-19 Cup champion is a good capital for us to be more confident in participating in the Asian tournament. We are very confident," said Indra Sjafri.

The Indonesian U-19 national team will prepare starting August 11, 2024. They will leave for Korea Selaan on August 29, 2024 or earlier.

In preparation, they will undergo a trial match against Argentina, Thailand, and South Korea in a mini tournament titled Seoul Earth On Us Cup 2024.