Big Indonesian football boss suddenly buys club in England: How is the U.23 team?

The President of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Mr. Erick Thohir, has just completed the acquisition of all shares of Oxford United Club in the English First Division (Championship). Meanwhile, the U.23 team participating in the 33rd SEA Games has not yet finalized its squad.

Unexpected action of Indonesian football boss

Mr. Erick Thohir is currently the President of PSSI and Minister of Youth and Sports of Indonesia. He is also a leading businessman in this country, and was the owner of the famous Inter Milan Club (Italy) from 2013 to 2018.

The 55-year-old politician and businessman has just caused a stir when he returned to invest in a top European club, specifically Oxford United in the Championship, just behind the Premier League.

The President of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Mr. Erick Thohir (in black), was recently approved by FIFA to hold two positions at the same time.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

"Oxford United can confirm that Mr. Erick Thohir has increased his shareholding in the club after acquiring all shares of Oxford Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd., formerly owned by Oxford United Investors Pte. Ltd. Following this acquisition, Mr. Horst Geicke has resigned as a director of the club," Oxford United said in a statement on November 20.

According to CNN Indonesia, Mr. Erick Thohir and his partner, also an Indonesian businessman, Anindya Bakrie, previously owned 51% of Oxford United's shares since 2022.

These two businessmen have just bought the majority of shares of Thai businessman, Mr. Sumrith "Tiger" Thanakarnjanasuth to officially own the club. Mr. Erick Thohir is now also a co-owner of Oxford United Club.

At Oxford United, there are currently two Indonesian national team players playing, including naturalized Dutch striker Ole Romeny and star Marselino Ferdinan (21 years old, on loan at AS Trencin Club in Slovakia).

According to Indonesian press, by officially owning Oxford United Club, Mr. Erick Thohir will bring young players from this country to England to compete to gradually improve their abilities. This is also part of the ambitious project of this country's football in the coming years, including setting the goal of reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup 2027, winning the right to participate in the World Cup 2030 finals, entering the world's top 80 in 2029...

Marselino Ferdinan (7) is the brightest star of Indonesian football today. He attended the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023 and is preparing to attend the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand soon.

Photo: Ngoc Duong

Mr. Erick Thohir's ownership of Oxford United is also a factor that is too easy for the important player Marselino Ferdinan to be accepted by his current home and loan team, AS Trencin, to return to play for the U.23 team at the upcoming 33rd SEA Games in December in Thailand.

Mr. Erick Thohir's influence also convinced his partners, clubs in the Netherlands such as NEC, Utrecht and Volendam, to agree to release naturalized players with origins such as Dion Markx, Ivar Jenner and Mauro Zijlstra to also be included in the U.23 Indonesia team for the 33rd SEA Games, even though this is a tournament not included in the FIFA Days schedule.

U.23 Indonesia uses the strongest force to defend the gold medal

The Indonesian U.23 team has finished their training camp to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games, with two friendly matches losing 0-3 to the Mali U.23 team and drawing 2-2. According to coach Indra Sjafri, he currently has only 18 players on the official 23-man roster for the 33rd SEA Games, still waiting for 5 key players.

Coach Indra Sjafri also considers opponents like U.23 Vietnam and host Thailand as the number 1 rivals in the competition for the gold medal in men's football at the 33rd SEA Games.

Therefore, he is waiting for PSSI to confirm the negotiations with the clubs to allow the best players of Indonesian football to return to the national team to participate in the tournament. Coach Indra Sjafri also said that after having the best squad of 23 players, the U.23 Indonesia team will leave for Thailand on November 23.

At the 33rd SEA Games (men's football from December 3 to 18), the U.23 Indonesia team is in Group C, competing in Chiang Mai City, including the opening match against U.23 Singapore on December 5, against U.23 Philippines on December 8 and against U.23 Myanmar on December 12, all at the 700th Anniversary Stadium.

Meanwhile, the host U.23 Thailand is in group A playing at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, opening against U.23 Timor Leste on December 3; followed by the match between U.23 Cambodia and U.23 Timor Leste on December 6; and the final match between U.23 Thailand and U.23 Cambodia on December 11. These group matches all take place at 7 p.m.

Vietnam U23 team is in group B with Malaysia U23 and Laos U23. According to the latest schedule, all matches in this group will take place at Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla province, including the opening match between Laos U23 and Vietnam U23 on December 4; Malaysia U23 and Laos U23 on December 7; and the final match between Vietnam U23 and Malaysia U23 on December 11. All matches will take place at 6:30 p.m.

After the group stage of men's football at the 33rd SEA Games ended, with the 3 group winners and 1 second-placed team with the best record entering the semi-finals. The semi-finals and final will be held at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok (51,560 seats).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sep-lon-bong-da-indonesia-bat-ngo-mua-clb-o-anh-doi-u23-ra-sao-185251120111636655.htm