U.23 Indonesia calls many naturalized players to participate in SEA Games 33, fans argue: Why?

Indonesian fans are divided after coach Indra Sjafri announced the list of 32 players of the country's U.23 team preparing for the 33rd SEA Games in December, including 4 naturalized players and 3 players from the national team.

Is SEA Games 33 more important than U.23 Southeast Asia and Asia?

According to CNN Indonesia, the number of naturalized players and players from the national team that have just been called up to the U.23 Indonesia team is now greater than the number of players who competed in the last two important tournaments: the U.23 Southeast Asian Championship and the U.23 Asian qualifiers.

The U.23 Indonesia team lost to U.23 Vietnam 0-1 in the U.23 Southeast Asia final in July. The two teams are candidates for the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games.

Photo: Ngoc Linh

Both tournaments were led by Dutch coach Gerald Vanenburg and were unsuccessful, with Garuda Muda (nicknamed Indonesia U23 team) losing the final of the Southeast Asian U23 tournament to Vietnam U23 team with a score of 0-1 at the end of July. In the Asian U23 qualifiers, they only finished second in the group and were eliminated in early September.

Meanwhile, coach Indra Sjafri has just been chosen by the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) to replace coach Gerald Vanenburg to lead the Indonesian U.23 team to participate in the 33rd SEA Games, and has been given the best conditions to call up the best players. Thereby, setting the ambition to successfully defend the SEA Games men's football gold medal, won in Cambodia in 2023 after a long wait of 32 years.

Coach Indra Sjafri has called up four naturalized players currently playing abroad to the 32-man list of the U.23 team preparing for the 33rd SEA Games, including Ivar Jenner (FC Utrecht), Dion Markx (TOP Oss), Tim Geypens (FC Emmen) all from the Netherlands, and Adrian Wibowo (Los Angeles FC, USA). These players, including Ivar Jenner and Adrian Wibowo, have played for the Indonesian national team.

Besides, there are other experienced names who have also played for the Indonesian team such as Rafael Struick, Muhammad Ferarri and Hokky Caraka. These names will certainly be the key players of U.23 Indonesia in the journey to defend the gold medal in men's football at the 33rd SEA Games, according to CNN Indonesia.

However, the fact that a large number of naturalized and experienced players from the national team were called up to the Indonesian U.23 team to participate in the 33rd SEA Games has caused controversy in the country's social media community, CNN Indonesia added.

A group of Indonesian fans expressed: "It turns out that the SEA Games in the region is more important than tournaments such as the Asian U.23 qualifiers or the recent Southeast Asian U.23 Championship. Is it necessary and feasible to call up too many naturalized players from abroad and to participate in the SEA Games, which is not included in the FIFA Days schedule? Moreover, will foreign clubs accept releasing them to compete?"

"In case the naturalized players come to the SEA Games, they cannot return to play for U.23 Indonesia because the club will not release them. At that time, coach Indra Sjafri will face a huge problem and it is unclear how he will handle it," another person added.

However, the majority of Indonesian fans affirmed that they need to support coach Indra Sjafri, because the goal of defending the SEA Games gold medal is no less important than regional and continental tournaments.

"Coach Indra Sjafri is preparing the best squad to defend the SEA Games gold medal, so it is normal for Ivar Jenner, Tim Geypens and other experienced players from the national team to come down to the U.23 team, it is a way to support.

Remember, the teams in the region competing for the SEA Games men's football gold medal also make the best use of all resources for the U.23 team. In addition, the U.23 generation of players are the next generation in the national team, choosing them to compete in the SEA Games is appropriate and we must support them," an Indonesian netizen commented and was quoted by CNN Indonesia.

The U.23 Indonesia team will begin their preparation for the 33rd SEA Games very early, this October, with two friendly matches against the U.23 India team, taking place on October 10 and 13 at Madya Stadium in Jakarta.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u23-indonesia-goi-nhieu-cau-thu-nhap-tich-du-sea-games-33-cdv-tranh-cai-vi-sao-185251002112609365.htm