JAKARTA - Liga 1 club Persebaya Surabaya sent a letter requesting restrictions on players who strengthen the National Team to the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).
"There are several reasons that the team took into consideration in proposing the maximum quota," said Persebaya Manager Candra Wahyudi when contacted by reporters in Surabaya, Monday, January 31.
In a letter that was also sent today, his party demanded that each club send a maximum of two players for the Red and White Team in one tournament.
The request, he said, was also related to the AFF U-23 Cup title in February in Cambodia which coincides with the schedule for the Liga 1 competition.
According to him, the clash of league schedules is an old problem for football in the country. For example, last October his team had proposed to postpone the match schedule against PSIS Semarang because four players were called up to the national team against Taiwan, but PT LIB did not heed it.
"Persebaya, like other clubs, is in a dilemma. Releasing the best players to the national team is an obligation for the country. But on the other hand, this situation makes it difficult for the club because League 1 is still running," Candr said as quoted by ANTARA.
Moreover, he continued, in February 2022, the league schedule was very tight and was in the period of determining the champion. In the senior national team squad, five players "Bajul Ijo" are trusted by Shin Tae-Yong, namely Ernando Ari, Rizky Ridho, Rahmat Irianto, Ricky Kambuaya and Marselino Ferdinand.
Meanwhile, in the upcoming AFF U-23 Cup, only Ricky Kambuaya will be returned to the team because his age exceeds the maximum tournament limit.
However, rumors circulated that Persebaya's energetic midfielder, Akbar Firmansyah, would have his turn to strengthen the national team.
In addition, other reasons are currently in the shadow of a further wave of the spread of COVID-19, including Indonesian football.
In fact, it has now been found that several players have been exposed, such as at Persebaya, where three players have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 so they cannot appear against PSS some time ago.
"Therefore, we ask PSSI to consider this request. We know that this request is not popular, but the existing conditions require it," said Candra.
"With the exception, PSSI and PT LIB can synchronize the national team agenda and competitions," he added.
Some time ago, Persebaya coach Aji Santoso also thought that the synchronization of the schedule should be able to be arranged because the national team's agenda had been scheduled for a long time so that the competition could follow.
"All players want to be called up to the national team. But, not when the competition is rolling like now. The federation should be able to arrange the schedule as well as possible so that no team is harmed," concluded Aji.
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