U.22 Indonesia outlines preliminary plan for Southeast Asian tournament
The U.23 Southeast Asian Championship will take place from July 15 to 31 in Indonesia. This is a tournament where Southeast Asian teams prepare for the 2026 U.23 Asian qualifiers (taking place around September - October) and the 33rd SEA Games (taking place in December). Teams in the region have shown great determination for the U.23 Southeast Asian Championship.
U.22 Indonesia (red shirt) has an interim coach for the U.22 Southeast Asian tournament
Photo: Ngoc Duong
On the host side of U.22 Indonesia, the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) has appointed Dutch coach Gerald Vanenburg to temporarily lead the young team of the archipelago country at this year's U.23 Southeast Asian tournament. After that, depending on the results of the regional tournament, PSSI will decide whether to continue using coach Gerald Vanenburg at the 33rd SEA Games or not.
After receiving the decision to temporarily lead the Indonesian U.22 team, coach Gerald Vanenburg said: "The preparation for the Indonesian U.22 team towards the Southeast Asian U.23 tournament has been carried out very carefully. We are determined in this year's tournament."
Schedule a decisive match with U.22 Vietnam
According to information from coach Gerald Vanenburg, it is very likely that he will only call up 1 naturalized player for the Indonesian U.22 team to participate in the regional youth tournament, that is striker Jens Raven (Dutch origin, 1.89 m, currently playing for Dordrecht Club in the Dutch national championship). In the past, striker Jens Raven played for the Indonesian U.20 team under coach Indra Sjafri.
U.22 Indonesia determined to win Southeast Asian championship at home
Photo: Ngoc Duong
The reason why coach Gerald Vanenburg did not call many naturalized players playing in Europe for the Indonesian U.22 team to participate in the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament is because this tournament takes place outside the FIFA Days schedule. In addition, famous naturalized players of Indonesian football are all focusing on the Indonesian national team, competing in the final stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia.
Although there are not many naturalized players, U.22 Indonesia is still highly appreciated. Their U.22 squad has been trained at the AFF Cup 2024, they do not lack competition experience. Indonesian newspaper Suara said: "U.22 Indonesia is determined in this year's tournament, the host team is capable of competing in the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament. The competition in this tournament will be very intense. In particular, U.22 Vietnam is the defending champion of the tournament, and is also the only team in the history of the tournament to have won the cup twice in a row".
Vietnam U22, as the defending champion, and Indonesia U22, as the host, are likely to be the seeds in both groups. The group stage of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament will take place in Jakarta and Bekasi. The final match is scheduled to be held at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. The draw for the tournament will take place on May 30, also in Jakarta.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-neu-thang-duoc-nguoi-dan-ong-nay-bong-da-indonesia-se-co-bien-lon-185250429152033952.htm
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