Erick Thohir Sends U-20 National Team to Asian Games 2023

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President of the Indonesian Football Association Erick Thohir will prepare U-20 national football team players to compete in Asian Games 2023 after Indra Sjafri was set to coach Indonesia’s national team for the event.

Erick revealed Shin Tae-Yong is no longer responsible for the U-20 football team. The South Korean coach is delegated to handle the U-23 football team and Indonesia’s senior football team instead, said Erick Thohir when met at Gelora Bung Karno Middle Stadium, Jakarta, on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

He also said that winning gold in Asian Games 2023 is not prioritized, but rather used to improve the team players’ qualities to cover U-23 players at times of injuries. He said that they need to strategize both short-term and long-term. “So what does that mean? We need to focus on U-17 World Cup, U-23 AFC Cup Qualification round to proceed to Qatar in May if we win,” Erick added.

The 2023 Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China starting from September 23 to October 8, 2023. At the last 2018 games, Indonesia’s national team failed to break through the round of 16. The team was defeated 3-4 by Uni Arab Emirates (UAE) in a penalty shoot-out, following a 2-2 full-time match score. The goal-scorer for Indonesia was Beto Goncalves and Stefano Lilipaly. Meanwhile, UAE’s goal was scored by Zayed Alameri.

RANDY FAUZI FEBRIANSYAH