PSSI Cancels National Team Appearing In AFF U-23 Cup, Menpora Respects Decisions Taken

Menpora Zainudin Amali with Chairman of PSSI M Iriawan/PHOTO: Kemenpora.go.id

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali already knows about PSSI's decision to cancel sending the U-23 national team to appear in the U-23 AFF Cup in Cambodia. Menpora chose to respect the decisions taken.

Moreover, Menpora also knew the reason PSSI chose not to send the national team to the tournament which was held on February 14-26 2022. This is because many of the national team retainers have been exposed to COVID-19.

"PSSI has decided not to participate at the request of the coach (Shin Tae-yong), I understand that because the reason is also strong," said the Menpora in a written statement, Friday, February 11.

"When they met at the Kemenpora (Thursday) they were still optimistic that they could go, but the situation quickly changed in the evening," continued Amali.

According to the PSSI report, a number of Indonesian national team players and officials have tested positive for COVID-19. At least seven players were declared exposed, namely Ronaldo Joybera R Junior, Muhammad Ferrari, Braif Fatari, Taufik Hidayat, Irfan Jauhari, Ahmad Figo Ramadhani, and Cahya Supriyadi.

Apart from the fact that there were players who were exposed, there were also four national team players who were waiting for the incubation period because they shared the same room with those who were exposed to COVID-19. The four players are Alfeandra Dewangga, Genta Alparedo, Muhammad Kanu Helmiawan, and Marcelino Ferdinand.

It didn't stop there, the condition of the Garuda squad was also getting worse because there were injured players. In the squad there are three players who have to step aside to recover their condition, namely Gunansar Mandowen, Ramai Rumakiek, and Muhammad Iqbal. All three are known to have suffered injuries while defending their respective clubs in the League 1 competition.

"The decision to cancel participation in the Cambodia U-23 AFF Cup was the right one. We must not force ourselves in a situation like this. It was an event that was beyond the will of the coach, the federation, let alone the government," said Zainudin.

"I hope that PSSI can focus on healing the exposed players," he hoped.

The Minister of Youth and Sports said that safety considerations were the most important in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Although Indonesia's withdrawal from this competition automatically made Indonesia fail to defend the title of the AFF U-23 Cup. In fact, with the squad owned by the Indonesian national team, they are the strongest candidates to come out as champions in this year's edition.

"Yes, no one wants this situation to happen. We can't force it with players like this, so we have to be realistic," explained the Menpora.