PSSI Chairman Efforts Elkan Baggott And Saddil Ramdani Can Strengthen U-23 National Team At SEA Games

PSSi General Chair Mochamad Iriawan (Cosams Kopong Beda/VOI)

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan said his party would try to get Elkan Baggot and Saddil Ramdani to strengthen the U-23 Indonesian national team at the Hanoi SEA Games later.

The two players were included in a list of 29 names called by Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-yong for a training camp in Korea.

However, recently the two players were mentioned as not defending the Garuda squad because they were not released by their respective clubs.

"Continue to communicate (with their club). Let's just pray that it will be realized later. If they can join, our team will be stronger," said Iriawan at the Madya Stadium, Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

The latest news says that Elkan was not allowed by his club Ipswich Town because he had the task of replacing several senior players who were absent due to injury.

Meanwhile, Saddil did not get permission from the coach of Sabah FC, Ong Kim Swee, because it was desperately needed by the squad. Iriawan said that he would try to coordinate with the Malaysian Football Federation so that Saddil could defend the Red and White team.

"I will do that to be able to help Saddil," said the figure who is familiarly called Iwan Bule to the media crew.

The U-23 Indonesian national team will leave for South Korea following Shin Tae-yong on April 15. There they will undergo a training camp until April 29.

Shin Tae-yong's squad is targeted to bring home a gold medal from the event in the Southeast Asia region which will be held from 12-23 May. Previously in the Philippines, Indonesia brought home silver after losing to Vietnam in the final match.