Ending Poor Achievement

Kompas/Priyombodo

Members of Indonesia’s under-22 soccer team celebrate their victory after beating Myanmar 3-1 in the fight for a bronze medal in the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at Selayang Stadium in Selangor, Malaysia, on Tuesday (29/8/2017).

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia is preparing to host the U-20 World Cup in 2021. There is always hope for success as a participant and organizer.

President Joko Widodo appointed Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali chairman of the U-20 World Cup Soccer Organizing Committee (INAFOC). One of INAFOC\'s main tasks is to prepare U-20 World Cup infrastructure in six cities.

The appointment of the youth and sports minister was positively responded to by Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chairman Mochamad Iriawan. According to Iriawan, the appointment of the youth and sports minister allowed the PSSI to focus on preparing for the best performance of the Indonesian national team (Kompas, 3/7/2020).

The youth and sports minister’s assignment and the positive response of the PSSI chairman was a good start for the U-20 World Cup. The fact that the two organizations can focus on two different issues will help the country in optimizing its role as the organizer and a participant.

Indonesia had an impressive experience when in 2018 it successfully hosted the Asian Games-Asian Para Games. Amid limited preparation, especially related to infrastructure, Indonesia is considered to have succeeded in organizing the Asian multi-branch championship. This should inspire the youth and sports minister to optimally prepare the U-20 World Cup infrastructure.

What about the success in terms of achievement? This is much more interesting. In a way, our achievements in international competitions have long passed, namely when we took the fourth rank in the 1986 Asian Games football and the gold medal in 1991 SEA Games. Indonesia needs present-day achievements to end the poor performance.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Menteri Pemuda dan Olahraga Zainudin Amali (tengah) mengenakan kaos PSSI bersama Ketua Umum PSSI Mochammad Iriawan (kiri) dan Direktur Utama PT Liga Indonesia Baru Cucu Somantri (kanan) di sela-sela Peluncuran Shopee Liga I 2020 di Hotel Fairmont, Jakarta, Senin (24/2/2020).

At the junior championship level, Indonesia won two AFF titles, namely the U-19 in 2013 and the U-16 in 2018, both of which were made when we were hosting the championships. Both achievements at the junior championship level should be a trigger for the PSSI to pump up achievements at the U-20 World Cup.

Some performances of our senior national team in a number of Asian Cup championships can serve as introspection. From several championships, Indonesia performed impressively in the early stages of the group matches, but then lost the next two matches.

The national team was held to a 2-2 draw against Kuwait, one of the goals was scored by Widodo C Putra, but then lost 2-4 to South Korea and 0-2 to the United Arab Emirates.

At the 2007 Asian Cup, when Indonesia was one of the hosts, Firman Utina and his colleagues performed convincingly and won 2-1 over Bahrain in the early match of Group D. However, the national team was unable to keep its performance and lost in the next two matches, 1-2 to Saudi Arabia and 0-1 to South Korea. A similar phenomenon occurred at the 1996 Asian Cup. The national team was held to a 2-2 draw against Kuwait, one of the goals was scored by Widodo C Putra, but then lost 2-4 to South Korea and 0-2 to the United Arab Emirates.

At the U-20 World Cup, with Indonesia as the host country, the government is targeting "Garuda Muda" soccer squad to qualify for 16th. Meanwhile, the PSSI has targeted the big eight.

The target should be followed by careful preparation for the best achievement. Indonesian soccer lovers believe there are many talented players in this country. Yet, the country has still struggled to make achievements. The PSSI as a national soccer association has the responsibility to end the streak of poor results.