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Jakarta Post

Future for Young Garudas

The country waits for the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to pick up the pace in developing players as they aim to represent Indonesia in the senior level.

Editorial board (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sat, August 20, 2022

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Future for Young Garudas Indonesian Under-16 national soccer team players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Vietnam 1-0 in a final match to win the 2022 AFF U-16 Championship at Maguwoharjo Stadium in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Aug. 12. (Antara/Andreas Fitri Atmoko)

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ast week, Indonesia’s Young Garudas national soccer squad won the Under-16 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Youth Championship trophy for the second time – a perfect gift for the country’s 77th Independence Day celebrations.

It was a big day for 16-year-old Muhammad Kafiatur Rizky, who produced the winning goal against Vietnam in the final match held in Yogyakarta to bring home the trophy.

However, coach Bima Sakti also deserves a pat on the back for building another winning team. The coach’s first success was when he led the Garudas to claim their first title in 2018.

This year’s victory allowed the U-16 team members and coach to meet in person with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace, on the sidelines of Wednesday’s Aug. 17 celebration.

At the meeting, the President congratulated the squad in person, with a message that all stakeholders in Indonesian soccer need to take seriously.

“[The team’s] performance needs to be maintained. Do not slip, because [a team’s quality] tends to decline [in U-23]. Stay consistent,” said President Jokowi, promising to provide the national squad with “the best training camp”.

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And to top it off, the President handed the team a reward of Rp 1 billion (US$67,446).

Indeed, over the past few years, our talented teen soccer players have shown more potential against their peers in the region, compared with their seniors.

In 2018, the Young Garudas made history by winning the first U-16 AFF title since their first participation in 2002. In 2019 they finished third after Thailand and Malaysia, but made amends this year. There were no 2020 and 2021 competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has been hard for the national teams in the older age groups to maintain consistency. In the past decade the U-22 team managed to win one title, and the U-19 won the AFF Cup in 2019. Meanwhile in the 2019, 2013 and 2011 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the U-23 squad only obtained silver medals.

Bima has done his part, but he certainly cannot work alone. The country waits for the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to pick up the pace in developing players as they aim to represent Indonesia at the senior level.  

Following the U-16 victory, Youth and Sports Minister Zainuddin Amali said he would cooperate with the PSSI to nurture and prepare the boys “to play in the U-20 team for the 2025 and 2027 SEA Games”.

Echoing the minister, PSSI chief Mochamad Irawan hoped that “in four years, these boys will become our golden era”.

Despite the plans and promises, real action is what these young guns truly need.

Basic needs for young athletes to reach the highest level are to have a proper training program and a well-managed domestic competition for all age groups. Aside from technical skills, players in the elite level also need proper handling in psychological and financial aspects, as they will face fame and business deals along the road, especially once they play professionally. 

Take the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) as an example. It has a proper ecosystem in bringing its athletes up to the world level, which allows them to become Olympic gold medalists and world champions.

Sort things out, PSSI. Stop robbing these young players of their future.

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