Following their failure at the SEA Games 33, the Indonesian U22 team faced threats of budget cuts.
After being eliminated early at the SEA Games 33 despite significant investment, the Indonesian U22 team not only faced budget cuts but also witnessed the departure of their coach and team manager.
The shock of being eliminated in the group stage of the 33rd SEA Games is having serious consequences for the Indonesian U22 team. The country's Ministry of Youth and Sports has issued a strong statement, affirming that sanctions will be imposed on teams that fail to meet targets, with men's football being the focus.
An inexcusable failure.
With significant investment in a squad of quality naturalized players such as Rafael Struick, Ivar Jenner, and Jens Raven, the Indonesian U22 team was tasked with at least winning a silver medal. However, as the defending champions of the 32nd SEA Games, the team was a major disappointment, being eliminated early.
The 0-1 defeat against the Philippines and the unconvincing 3-1 victory against Myanmar officially ended the journey of the Indonesian U22 team, much to the surprise of their fans. Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Surono affirmed: "We have planned for each sport. Some sports did not meet their targets, some met them, and some even exceeded them. There will certainly be awards and there will also be penalties."
Penalties and a wave of resignations
One of the sanctions being considered by the Indonesian government is cutting funding for the national training program. Sports that are underperforming, including men's football, would be directly affected. This is seen as a strong move to demand greater accountability from sports federations regarding national resources.
Before the official disciplinary action was announced, a storm had already swept through the team's coaching staff. The Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) decided to terminate the contracts of coach Indra Sjafri and his assistants. Shortly afterward, Sumardji also announced his resignation as head of the national team delegation as an act of taking responsibility for the team's overall failure.
The failure at the 33rd SEA Games and the upcoming disciplinary measures represent a significant setback for the ambitions of Indonesian youth football. The pressure to rebuild the team and regain the fans' trust is weighing heavily on the PSSI (Indonesian Football Association).
