Waiting For The 21 Indonesian U-17 National Team Players Chosen By The Milky Way

Indonesian U-17 national team. (Photo: Instagram.com/@pssi)

JAKARTA - The U-17 Indonesian national team coach, Bima Sakti, will reduce the number of players ahead of the 2023 U-17 World Cup. The Milky Way will streamline its squad to 21 names from 26 currently available players.

"Currently, the number of players in the team is 26 people and that will be reduced," said Bima Sakti after leading the training at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, Monday, October 30.

The announcement of the names of the players who will be selected is under the authority of the All-Indonesian Football Association. The Milky Way could not reveal when the announcement would be made.

"Later, PSSI will release 21 players who will be brought to the 2023 U-17 World Cup," continued Bima Sakti.

Of the 21 names that will be announced later, there will be two names of diaspora players who will certainly participate. They will help the red and white team undergo the match which will be held from November 10 to December 2.

Before the process of reducing players was announced, currently 26 names who are members are still adapting after undergoing a training camp in Germany.

Bima said the cold weather conditions in Germany were an obstacle that had to be faced, while when he was in Indonesia it was actually so hot. This situation must be passed by his foster children by adapting, especially later the match will be held in Surabaya.

"It's hot here and later we will go to Surabaya so that the children can adapt again there," said the coach.

Regarding the performance of the players, Bima assessed that there had been many changes after undergoing several matches with the youth team in Germany and trials with Barcelona (Spain) and Kashima Antlers (Japan) in August 2023.

At the 2023 U-17 World Cup, Indonesia is in Group A with Ecuador, Morocco, and Panama. The first match will be faced against Ecuador on November 10.