No Problem The U-22 Indonesian National Team Without Foreign Players At The SEA Games, Indra Sjafri: Many In Indonesia

Indonesia U-22 National Team Coach for the 2023 SEA Games, Indra Sjafri. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - The U-22 Indonesian national team will most likely not use the services of foreign players in facing the 2023 SEA Games. However, that did not make coach Indra Sjafri dizzy.

He had no problem if his squad was not strengthened by players from abroad. In fact, he can understand it.

"If indeed they (players from abroad-ed) cannot play in the SEA Games, it doesn't matter. There are many, really, players in Indonesia," said Indra at Field B Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Tuesday.

Even so, Indra will not refuse if later there are players who work abroad to join. He said PSSI had contacted Indonesian players in overseas.

"If their club is willing (to give permission-ed), yes, why not. But that is not our focus," he said, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, March 7.

Currently, there are several Indonesian players aged 22 years and under who have careers abroad, both in Asia and Europe.

Call it centre-back Elkan Baggott who plays for the Cheltenham Town team in League One, England. Then there is left-back Pratama Arhan in the Tokyo Verdy team in the Japanese League 2.

Another one is striker Amiruddin Bagus who is now playing for Greek club Asteras Tripoli.

Indra Sjafri emphasized that he would prepare his squad as best he could with or without players from abroad.

Currently, he and the U-22 national team coaching staff are still looking for players in the training camp (TC) which will be held in two stages in Jakarta, namely on March 1-8 and March 9-16, 2023. These TC players are League 1 club players who rarely get playing minutes, and League 2.

The best players from the TC will then compete with players who compete regularly in Liga 1 to take place in the 2023 SEA Games squad. There are 20 players who will strengthen the Indonesian U-22 national team at the 2023 SEA Games.

The 2023 SEA Games will take place in Cambodia on May 5-17, 2023.

The Indonesian U-22 national team is targeted to win a gold medal at the event. At the SEA Games, the 'Garuda' squad has only been the best twice in men's soccer, namely 1987 and 1991.