TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indra Sjafri is appointed as the coach of the Indonesian national team for the 2023 SEA Games which will take place in Cambodia on May 5-17, 2023. The appointment of the technical director of the Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) as the coach was decided during the meeting of the PSSI Executive Committee on Monday, January 30, 2023.

“Given that SEA Games in Cambodia are getting closer, PSSI needs to take steps to appoint a coach who will be in charge of the event,” said PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi as quoted from PSSI’s official website on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

The appointment, according to Yunus, was in line with the program of the Youth and Sports Ministry and the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) regarding the preparation for the upcoming championships.

PSSI appointed another coach for this year's SEA Games because Shin Tae-yong would focus on training the U-20 national team for the U-20 World Cup which will take place in Indonesia from May 20 to June 11, 2023.

The Indonesian national team that will compete in the SEA Games are players under 23 years old and three senior players.

Indra has a good record when leading the U-19 National Team. He once brought his team to win the AFF U-19 Cup in 2013 after defeating Vietnam’s team. He had also handled Bali United in League 1.

Before becoming a coach, Indra Sjafri was a former football player as a midfielder. He played on PSP Padang Junior for five years from 1981 to 1986 and after that, on the club's senior team for five years until 1991.

RINA WIDIASTUTI

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