Indonesia stops National Championship because of SEA Games, PSSI President defends U.17 team after shock

Indonesia determined to compete for the SEA Games 33 men's football gold medal with the Vietnam U.22 team

According to the Indonesian press, the suspension of the Liga 1 tournament for the 2025-2026 season in December will give the country's U.22 team time to prepare to defend the gold medal won at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023 in Cambodia. This is considered a great ambition of Indonesian football, when deciding to make a big change even though the SEA Games is not on the official FIFA Days schedule.

Vietnam U.22 team will face Indonesia U.22 team at SEA Games 32 in 2023

Photo: Ngoc Duong

The 33rd SEA Games in Thailand will take place from December 9 to 20. In particular, men's football is considered a fierce competition between the host team U.22 Thailand, the U.22 Vietnam team and the U.22 Indonesia team after winning the gold medal in 2023.

In the last 4 SEA Games, the U.22 Vietnam team won the championship twice in a row in 2019 and 2021. Meanwhile, the U.22 Thailand team last won the gold medal in 2017. The Indonesian team wants to maintain its strength to gradually affirm its leading role in Southeast Asian football.

The Indonesian U.22 team has parted ways with experienced coach Indra Sjafri. The Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) has appointed Dutch coach Gerald Vanenburg, who is also a member of the national team's coaching staff, to lead the team to the 33rd SEA Games.

The suspension of the country's Liga 1 tournament for 1 month will give Mr. Gerald Vanenburg and his colleagues enough time to prepare to help the Indonesian U.22 team have all the potential to defend the gold medal in men's football.

Meanwhile, PSSI President Erick Thohir spoke out after the shocking defeat of the Indonesian U.17 team against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with a score of 0-6 in the quarter-finals of the U.17 Asian Cup on April 14.

"We cannot blame the players, and we should not punish them. This defeat is a valuable lesson. We must acknowledge the efforts of all the players, coaches and officials who have worked hard at the 2025 AFC U-17 Championship. They have achieved remarkable success, which is to qualify for the World Cup," he said.

In 2023, we will attend the U.17 World Cup as hosts, and this year we have qualified. That is a great achievement. But clearly, I also have to admit that the team's capacity is still limited. Therefore, we need to continue to improve and prepare even better for the World Cup."

Mr. Erick Thohir also expressed: "It must be admitted that the quarter-finals of the U.17 Asia are really difficult. Look at how the U.17 Japan team was defeated by the host team Saudi Arabia after the penalty shootout.

Or like Uzbekistan team is a new force, playing very stable, they are strong at all levels from youth teams to the national team. I think, for Indonesian football to develop to this level, we not only learn and apply sustainable development models like Japanese and Korean football, but now we also need to look at Uzbekistan football".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/indonesia-dung-giai-vdqg-vi-sea-games-chu-tich-pssi-bao-ve-doi-u17-sau-cu-soc-185250415075146601.htm