Instead Of Avoiding The Spike In COVID-19 Cases In Indonesia, Shin Tae-yong Went To Korea For Treatment

Shin Tae-yong (Photo: PSSI)

JAKARTA - The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong, has now admitted that he is undergoing treatment and health checks in his home country, South Korea.

Quoted from Antara from the official PSSI website in Jakarta, Friday, Shin's latest statement also refuted reports from South Korean media which stated that he was in good health and returned to his hometown just to avoid a spike in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

"I ask for permission from PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan to return to South Korea taking into account the effects of COVID-19 that I have experienced. I will seek treatment and check up in South Korea," said the 50-year-old tactician.

Shin added that he and PSSI had coordinated their activities in the Ginseng Country.

The results of the discussion also resulted in a policy that the U-18 national team's training center (TC) was postponed because positive cases of COVID-19 in the country continued to rise.

The TC for the preparation for the 2023 U-20 World Cup is scheduled to take place on 28 June-15 July 2021 in Jakarta and will be attended by 144 players.

"After coordinating with PSSI and seeing the COVID-19 pandemic which is currently high in Jakarta, of course it is not possible to hold a national team training camp. Once I finish taking treatment, of course I will immediately return to Indonesia," said Shin

Besides Shin, four assistant coaches namely Choi In-cheul, Kim Woo-jae, Kim Hae-won and Lee Jae-hong also returned to South Korea.

Previously, quoted from the South Korean Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday, June 29, Shin stated that he was in good health and flew to South Korea to get away from the worsening COVID-19 pandemic conditions in Indonesia.

This statement contradicts the official statement from PSSI the day before, Monday, which reported that Shin had gone to South Korea for treatment. However, now Shin admits that he went to South Korea to take care of his health.

As is known, in March 2021, Shin was flown by a special plane to South Korea because he had COVID-19 and its comorbidities.

In the remainder of 2021, the Indonesian national team will participate in several international tournaments such as the 2023 Asian Cup Qualification play-off on 7 September and 12 October 2021 against Taiwan.

After that, the Garuda squad will step into the 2021 SEA Games and the AFF Cup.