TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsHerdman makes national team debut with victory in friendly
The 4-0 victory over Saint Kitts and Nevis in the 2026 FIFA Series competition in Jakarta became the first game and win for English coach John Herdman, who was appointed to helm the national men’s soccer team in January.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Indonesia's men soccer team head coach John Herdman (right) instructs on March 27, 2026, defender Kevin Diks during the 2026 FIFA Series match at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) main stadium in Central Jakarta. (Antara/Asprilla Dwi Adha)
F
our goals and a clean sheet marked John Herdman’s debut as the head coach of Indonesia’s national men’s soccer team, which beat Saint Kitts and Nevis to advance to the final of the 2026 FIFA Series competition in Jakarta.
The English coach made his debut in this year’s Series which is a set of friendly matches among national teams from different confederations. Indonesia hosts the group that comprises Saint Kitts, Bulgaria and Solomon Islands.
During the match at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) main stadium in Central Jakarta on Friday, Indonesia opened their campaign with victory after scoring a pair of goals in each half against their Caribbean opponents.
Beckham Putra, a winger who plays for West Java-based Persib Bandung soccer club, scored the first in the 15th minute after rounding Saint Kitts goalkeeper Julani Archibald. He doubled Indonesia’s lead with a finish from just inside the penalty area in the 25th minute.
After twice assisting Beckham, Dutch-descent striker Ole Romeny got himself on the scoresheet during the second half. He sent home a rebound after Archibald failed to clear a corner delivered by winger Dony Tri Pamungkas.
Persija Jakarta striker Mauro Zilstra added the fourth goal for Indonesia in the 74th minute, three minutes after he was subbed in by Herdman. It was his first international goal for Indonesia.
Speaking after the match, Herdman said the scoresheet fulfilled a target of four goals and a clean sheet set by the team before the game. He added players handled the match professionally despite rotation for some players.
