Qualifying For The 2025 U-20 Asian Cup, Indra Sjafri Opens Opportunities To Add Descendants

Kaya Symons is included in the projected naturalization of the U-20 Indonesian national team (Instagram/@kayasymons).

JAKARTA - The U-20 Indonesian national team coach, Indra Sjafri, opens up opportunities to increase team strength by recruiting quality players, including descendants.

This was revealed by the coach following the success of Garuda Muda in qualifying for the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup finals.

In the final match of Group F of the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualification, the U-20 Indonesian national team held a draw for Yemen U-20 with a score of 1-1. The match at the Madya Stadium was also watched by the head coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong.

After the match, Shin who watched the match directly assessed that Garuda Nusantara needed additional naturalization players. Indra Sjafri responded to this statement with the answer in line.

"Maybe to be precise we need a more quality player, whether he is of descent or not. When it comes to descendants, the team has five descendants," said Indra Sjafri in a statement after the match quoted on Monday, September 30, 2024.

"One Welfer, Meshal, Ji Da Bin, Maouri, are all descendants, plus Jens Raven is of descent. However, of the five, only Jens has transferred citizenship," said Indra.

Regarding additional players, the coach from West Sumatra then said that he had already proposed five names for naturalization. The five players have been called during a training camp in France.

"Two months ago, after the Toulon Cup, we recommended five descendants to be able to transition citizenship, but we proposed three," said Indra Sjafri.

"There's Team Gypens, Dion Marxk, and Maurice Hinoke. Yesterday I spoke with friends in the Netherlands, Kaya Symons gave a signal to join."

"However, of course PSSI will follow up administratively and hopefully what we have proposed can be realized quickly," said the coach again.

After qualifying for the group title, the U-20 Indonesian national team will continue their struggle in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup finals. The agenda will take place in China on 6-23 February 2025.