Indonesian U-20 Captain Is Not Afraid To Compete With Naturalized Players

Dony Tri Pamungkas is not afraid to compete with naturalized players in Indonesia U-20 (Instagram/@donytripamungkas).

JAKARTA - The captain of the U-20 Indonesian national team, Dony Tri Pamungkas, admitted that he was not afraid to compete with naturalized players.

He made this affirmation when the issue of adding new descendants emerged as Indonesia U-20 qualified for the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup.

The U-20 Indonesian national team to the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup finals after securing the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualification Group F title.

Indra Sjafri's troops won seven points from three matches, won twice and once in a series. In detail, Indonesia U-20 won over the U-20 Maldives (4-0) and beat Timor Leste U-20 (3-1). Then, in the final match against Yemen U-20, the match ended in a 1-1 series.

Indeed, Indonesia U-20 and Yemen points are the same, but Garuda Muda won the group thanks to winning the goal difference.

Meanwhile, Indra Sjafri as the coach said that the team still needed additional quality players to compete in China next year, which did not rule out the possibility of bringing in naturalized players.

Responding to the decision, Dony Tri Pamungkas admitted that he did not feel burdened. He said that whether or not there was a naturalized player, he would continue to fight for the best results in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup.

"With the presence or absence of descendants, I don't think there is a problem. We trust each other," said Dony Tri Pamungkas in his statement quoted Monday, September 30, 2024.

"In the future there will be naturalization or not, it depends on the coach. As a player, I will continue to fight to get a place in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup later," he said.

The Persija Jakarta player said that all Indonesian U-20 players have the same determination. They will fight in order to defend Garuda Muda in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup.

The 2025 U-20 Asian Cup will take place in China on February 6-23, 2025. The tournament is very crucial because it is a qualification for the 2025 U-20 World Cup.

To qualify for the 2025 U-20 World Cup, the U-20 Indonesian national team must be able to advance to the semifinals. The reason is, there are only four of the best teams entitled to qualify for the tournament held at Chile.