The U-24 Indonesian National Team Only Has 19 Players To Face Kyrgyzstan At The 2023 Asian Games, Indra Sjafri: We Have Focused

The coach of the Indonesian U-24 National Team for the 2023 Asian Games, Indra Sjafri. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA The Indonesian U-24 national team (Timnas) only had 19 players to face Kyrgyzstan in the inaugural match of the 2022 Asian Games Group A Hangzhou.

The clash between the two teams will be held at Zhejiang University East Stadium, Tuesday, September 19 tomorrow. A total of 22 were called by coach Indra Sjafri for this match, but not all of them could attend.

"There are 19 players who are ready and already in Hangzhou. We are also still waiting for the players who will join. Obviously we have focused ahead of the inaugural match against Kyrgyzstan," said Indra, quoted on the PSSI website.

One of the three names confirmed not to play in the Asian Games is Ramadhan Sananta. He was not released by his club Persis Solo for reasons of need in the team.

Meanwhile, the other two names are Beckham Putra and Kadek Arel Priyatna. The two players were not in good shape so they had not yet left for Hangzhou.

"The sick and injured have not yet departed, Beckham Putra (injury) and Kadek Arel (sick). All these players already have an Asian Games ID Card and can no longer be replaced because we have replaced 9 players from the list we have registered at the beginning," explained Indra.

Despite being hit by problems with the composition of players, Indra didn't want to be too dizzy. The coach who successfully brought the 2023 SEA Games gold medal emphasized that all the dynamics that occur in the country should be an internal problem.

"The important thing now is that my team and I will focus on facing this Asian Games event, with all the players here," he said.

The U-23 Indonesian national team immediately underwent physical recovery training, upon arrival at Jinhua Youth Sports Scholl Football, Huangzhou, Sunday, September 17 yesterday.

After fighting Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia will undergo its second match against Taiwan on September 21, 2023. Finally, Egy Maulana Vikri and his friends will meet North Korea on September 24, 2023.