Indonesian football boss still wants his team to win the AFF Cup

(Dan Tri) - Although the Indonesian team did not gather its strongest force for the AFF Cup 2024, the president of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) Erick Thohir announced that the team will still win the Southeast Asian championship this year.

The preliminary list of 33 Indonesian players for the AFF Cup 2024 includes mostly players under the age of 21. This is the squad that will compete in the Southeast Asian Championship and prepare for the 33rd SEA Games in 2025.

There are only three naturalized players in this squad (they are also U21 players), including center-back Justin Hubner, midfielder Ivar Jenner and striker Rafael Struick.

PSSI President Erick Thohir (left) and coach Shin Tae Yong (Photo: Getty).

Despite participating in the AFF Cup 2024 with a very young squad, PSSI President Erick Thohir is still confident in the team's ability. Mr. Erick Thohir told the Indonesian media: "It is best for the Indonesian team to win the AFF Cup."

"I will still give the team to coach Shin Tae Yong. Many people advised me to choose coach Indra Sjafri (champion of SEA Games 32 in Cambodia last year) for this young team. However, I still decided to give the opportunity to coach Shin Tae Yong," PSSI president Erick Thohir added.

The difficulty for the Indonesian team is that, because the AFF Cup is outside the FIFA annual competition schedule (FIFA Days), clubs are not obliged to send players to the national teams. That is the reason why Indonesia cannot call up many naturalized players for the AFF Cup 2024 squad, similar to the way they call up forces for World Cup qualifiers.

The Indonesian team (red shirts) wants to win the 2024 AFF Cup with a young squad (Photo: Reuters).

Regarding the above issue, PSSI President Erick Thohir shared: "I am not sure whether the clubs will allow all the players on our team list to participate in the AFF Cup or not?".

"Regarding striker Rafael Struick, Brisbane Roar Club (Australia) said they might not let him participate in the group stage of the AFF Cup 2024. Only until the semi-finals or finals, Brisbane Roar will let Rafael Struick focus on the Indonesian team," Mr. Erick Thohir revealed further.

At the 2024 AFF Cup, Indonesia is in Group B with Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar and Laos. This year's Southeast Asian Football Championship kicks off on December 8.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/sep-bong-da-indonesia-van-muon-doi-nha-vo-dich-aff-cup-20241126132521573.htm