Bima Sakti Strengthens Technical Understanding And Tactics Of U-16 National Team Players

JAKARTA - The coach of the U-16 Indonesian national team, Bima Sakti, continues to strengthen the technical and tactical understanding of his foster children so that weaknesses during the international trial against the United Arab Emirates (UEA) can be resolved immediately.

"Whether it's physical, their improved tactical understanding has improved a lot. The improvements after two trial matches against the UAE (United Arab Emirates) have given us meaningful lessons," Bima said as quoted by Antara from the club's official website from Jakarta, Monday, November 23. .

Techniques that are noted for Bima's improvement such as passing and accuracy, then tactically transitioning from defense to attacking or vice versa to anticipating the direct ball against a team with high body posture.

According to him, these improvements will become the training menu for the national team this week. In essence, the two matches against the UAE are valuable lessons for the U-16 national team to reflect on improving themselves.

"I hope players can further reduce the distance between the lines, especially when defending, the distance is the focus. Especially when against a team with players who have a bigger and taller body like the UAE team players," he said.

"When opponents play the ball directly from their goalkeeper straight to the front, that's how to anticipate it, I ask players to keep their distance, not too open," he added.

Meanwhile, Arkhan Fikri, one of the U-16 national team players, said that physically he and his friends had improved, especially when he was recovering from an injury.

He is also determined to be able to compete with other players in order to win a post in the U-19 national team and the injury he suffered is not a painful memory but has actually strengthened him mentally.

"Here I will prove that I can return to my form after recovering from injury. I will not waste this good opportunity. My target is to continue to prove myself if I can play and bring this team to the AFC Cup and also most importantly to the AFC Cup. World Cup, "he said.

The U-16 National Team TC in November will last until the 29th. This TC is part of a series of preparations for the young Garuda squad ahead of the U-16 AFC Cup final which is scheduled to take place in Bahrain in 2021.

Indonesia is the only country from ASEAN to appear in this prestigious Asian youth tournament and is part of Group D along with Japan, Saudi Arabia and China.