PSSI Chairman Discusses Shin Tae-yong's Sustainability In The Indonesian National Team, This Agenda Becomes A Decisive

The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong. (Photo: Twitter @pssi)

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chairperson (Ketum), Erick Thohir, denied the news of Shin Tae-yong's fate as coach of the Indonesian national team will be determined after qualifying for the U-23 Asian Cup. He said Shin's contract would still continue until June 2024.

However, there is a possibility that Shin's contract will end sooner. The determination only occurred when the Indonesian national team appeared in the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar.

"Coach Shin Tae-yong has a commitment to cooperation (with the Indonesian national team) until June 2024. So based on that, my assessment (regarding its performance) will be in Qatar, which is (at the 2023 Asian Cup) senior," said Erick Thohir at the Madya Stadium, Senayan on Friday, September 8.

In fact, Shin Tae-yong's initial contract with the Indonesian national team ended in December 2023. However, the former South Korean national team coach was still asked to lead the Garuda squad in the 2023 Asian Cup.

The agenda is scheduled to roll out early next year in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, 2024. Based on the results of the drawing held in Qatar in mid-May, Indonesia has been confirmed to be included in Group D.

Garuda's squad will certainly fight hard since the group phase in the competition. The reason is, the Indonesian national team is part of the same group as Japanese, Iraqi and Vietnamese-class countries.

If you look at the strength of the Garuda Squad rivals in the Asian Cup, Shin Tae-yong's foster children are the team with the lowest FIFA ranking in Group D.

The 2023 Asian Cup will be Indonesia's fifth time participating in the most prestigious international football competition in Asia and the first time since 2007. In its history of participation, Garuda has never advanced further than the group phase.

In addition to the tough agenda, the coach was also busy with the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup qualifying agenda being held in Solo. He and his team were given great responsibility to qualify for the final round in Qatar to increase their chances of appearing in the Olympics.