Indonesia Junior Soccer Teams Reach Success in Asia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Amidst the current drastic decline of Indonesian senior soccer team performance, the under-15 years of age team (U-15) and U-16 team reached glorious achievements in the Asian region soccer tournaments.

The U-15 soccer team turned out as champion in the Asian Students Cup 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand, last week, while the U-16 team defeated Guam team 17-0 in Bangkok Yamaha stadium last Saturday. In the final rounds of the Asian Students Cup Football Tournament in Bangkok, the Indonesian U-15 defeated Thailand team 2-1.

However, upon arrival at the Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Tangerang, Banten province, last Monday, the successful junior team was greeted only by the parents of the students and representatives of the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Meanwhile, Roni Iswandi, manager of the U-15 team said "We are very grateful and proud of the team’s victory".

In addition, chairman of the All-Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI) Djohar Arifin Husin expressed hope that the U-15 team should not disperse because they are projected as the core players U-16 national team in 2012.

"This team should not disperse. You are expected to become core players in the U-16 national team next year," Djohar said when receiving the U-15 team in the PSSI office in Senayan, Jakarta last Thursday.

Djohar who was among others accompanied by one of the PSSI executive committee members Tony Apriliani received the U-15 team members led by their manager Roni Iswandi. According to Djohar, PSSI should prepare teams at various age levels every year, so that a team that has a great achievement is potential to be developed further as the potential future players.

"You are all patriots and heroes. It is not easy to beat Thailand at its base because (you) also face pressure from the host audience," Djohar said, adding to the senior team it was very difficult to become champion even at the ASEAN level.

"Thus, we ask you not to be complacent too soon because it is still a long struggle," he reminded.

The U-15 team is composed of soccer players from the Indonesia Football Academy (IFA), Jakarta Football Academy (JFA), MUBA, and UNI Bandung. Apart from being champion, the U-15 also won a fair play trophy and one of its strikers Indra Kelana Nasution was chosen as the best player and the top scorer, while Awan Setoraharjo as the best goalkeeper in the match.