REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- PSSI General Chairman Erick Thohir aims for the Indonesian national team to win the final match of the AFF Cup 2024 group stage or under the official name of ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup (AMEC) 2024. Tima Garuda will face the Philippines at Manahan Stadium, Solo, on Saturday (21/12/2024).
This target is said by Erick because the match against the Philippines will be a decisive match for Indonesia's move to the semifinals of the AMEC 2024 after suffering a 0-1 defeat to Vietnam on Sunday (15/12/2024).
“Against Vietnam, like an honorable loss count, if it can be a great series. Last night, the players showed good play,” Erick said when he met the media crew after the PSSI Partner Summit 2024 event at Hotel Park Hyatt, Jakarta, Monday (16/12/2024).
“So I would ask again for the whole team to come back together. The coach is also focused on his target, against the Philippines this must win,” he said.
At this Southeast Asian level tournament, Indonesia chose not to field its best squad and preferred to play the U-22 squad. In addition to the fact that the ASEAN Cup is not included in the FIFA calendar, the selection of young players according to Erick also has a long-term goal.
Muhammad Ferarri and friends are expected to glean as much experience as possible at the tournament. This is so that they have the capacity to look forward to more prestigious tournaments in the future, such as the 2025 SEA Games and the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup qualification.
“It means that if we don't prepare a team that today is trying to play in the Asian Cup and even try to qualify for the World Cup, it's impossible. Yes we see also a lot of our players have started another five years it has started into seniors, so yeah we have to keep getting up,” he said.
Don't complain
Erick also responded to Indonesian national coach Shin Tae-yong's complaints about the tight schedule at AMEC 2024.
“Don't talk too much, don't talk too much, just focus. We're focused on the programs that we've agreed to,” Erick said.
Shin began protesting against the congested schedule at AMEC 2024 before the match against Laos played Thursday (12/12/2024). According to the South Korean coach, the schedule of group stage matches every three days using the home-away format is not ideal.
He suggested that the format of this group stage soon change back to a home tournament system.
However, Erick had other thoughts. In the modern era of football, he knows full well a congested schedule becomes a scary ghost for a team because of the potential for fatigue that can lead to injury.
Therefore, Erick asked Shin not to complain too much because when participating in a tournament there must be a target. Meanwhile, Indonesia's goal at AMEC 2024 is to mature young players before competing in more prestigious tournaments in the future.
“That's why I'm not forcing the league to stop, we focus on young players. Indeed yes all formats are tiring yes. If we look at European competitions, they play in the league, then they play in the Champions League in the middle of the competition. Going back, I hope whatever we've made a program of all commitments,” he stressed.
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