PSSI's Heavy Target For Indra Sjafri: Tembus 2025 U-20 World Cup

Indra Sjafri was appointed by PSSI to be the coach of the U-20 Indonesian national team. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - PSSI officially appointed Indra Sjafri to handle the U-20 Indonesian national team. He was contracted with a duration of four years until 2027.

During his tenure, Indra Sjafri will escort the national team to appear at the upcoming 2023 and 2026 Asian Games.

"PSSI has agreed with coach Indra Sjafri regarding his appointment as coach of the Indonesian U-20 team and the upcoming 2023 and 2026 Asian Games," said PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir in a statement on PSSI's official website.

"We have a contract for four years and PSSI believes Indra Sjafri is the right coach for this," he continued.

Trust was given to Indra Sjafri given a fairly good track record. So far, the West Sumatra coach has even won the 2013 AFF U-19 Cup, the 2019 AFF U-22 Cup champion, and the 2023 SEA Games gold medal.

With that note, PSSI believes and believes in the process and results that Indra Sjafri will do for his team. In carrying out his new task, Indra Sjafri is also targeted to be able to bring the U-20 national team to qualify for the upcoming 2025 U-20 World Cup.

"We also hope that coach Indra Sjafri will be able to pass the U-20 team to the U-20 World Cup in 2025. PSSI is sure that coach Indra Sjafri will give achievements," said Erick Thohir.

With the new task being carried out, Indra Sjafri said he was happy. Regarding the target given by PSSI, the coach admitted that he would make optimal efforts to make it happen while continuing to find great talents in the country.

"Alhamdulillah, I accept the mandate given by the Chairman of PSSI to coach the 2023 U-20 and Asian Games and 2026 teams. God willing, I am ready and will prepare the team as well as possible," said Indra Sjafri.

Indra Sjafri's initial task in sight is to handle the U-20 national team at the 2022 Asian Games (2023) because the agenda is included in PSSI's plan. After that, the U-20 national team will also play the AFF U-19 Cup and the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualification as a way to appear in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup.

In order to be able to realize the federation's target to be able to appear in the 2025 U-20 World Cup, Garuda Asia must be able to qualify for the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup and penetrate the semifinals which will automatically make the team win tickets to the 2025 U-20 World Cup.