Give Flying Hours, PSSI Appoints Bima Sakti To Be The National Team Coach For The U-17 World Cup

The press conference for the Indonesian U-17 World Cup 2023 which was held at the Danareksa Tower, Saturday (24/6/23). (Doc. ANTARA/Zaro Ezza Syachniar)

JAKARTA - After the election of Indonesia to host the 2023 U-17 World Cup, General Chairperson of the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir announced that the Milky Way Tukiman was appointed as the national team coach for the 2023 U-17 World Cup.

Previously, the 2023 U-17 World Cup in Indonesia was held from November 10 to December 2. Preparations for the Indonesian U-17 national team also need to be accelerated, including the selection of coaches.

Through a press conference held at Danareksa Tower, Saturday, Erick said the appointment of the Milky Way was because his party wanted to provide flight hours for young coaches.

"We think we will give the Bima coach a chance, we need young coaches. In the management of STY (Shin Tae-Yong) there are Nova coaches and new coaches, in the management of Indra at the SEA Games there are also many young coaches," said Erick, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, June 24.

Later the 46-year-old coach will be accompanied by an assistant who is still in the discussion stage.

"Later we will discuss it at the Exco PSSI, there must be a companion because this is a world championship. Whoever the companion is, we will discuss it," said the man who was born on May 30, 1970.

Bima Sakti is a coach who previously brought the U-16 national team to win the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup.

In the championship between clubs throughout Southeast Asia, Iqbal Gwijangge and his friends won the title after defeating Vietnam 1-0 in the final match played at Maguwaharjo Stadium, Sleman, August 2022.

The excitement of Young Garuda unfortunately did not continue until the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers. At that time, winning three wins in the first three matches, the Bima Sakti team had to bury their dream of failing to qualify for the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup finals because they lost 1-5 to Malaysia in the last match.

Regarding preparation, the man who also serves as Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) will also send the best team at the quadrennial event which was originally to be held in Peru.

Erick said that later the U-17 national team players would pass the stages starting from nine regions, combined, then will undergo training camp in July-August, and then September-October will be sent abroad to fight teams from Europe, Asia, to Africa.

"Then we'll see too, for preparation, we'll send the best team, whoever they are. Why are we selecting in nine cities, why are we training in Europe, yes we want to make the best team. When will we play in the World Cup, even as hosts, who knows the results are good, whatever the results will be, "concluded Erick.