Young Garudas Warned Against Complacency

The Indonesian U-22 team has won the gold medal it has been waiting for for 32 years at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games. However, this historic achievement should not cause excessive euphoria.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Convoy of U-22 Indonesian National Team vehicles passing through Jalan Sudirman, Jakarta, Friday (19/5/2023). After 32 years, the U-22 Indonesian National Team won another gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games.

TANGERANG, KOMPAS — Winning the first gold medal in 32 years at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, the Indonesian Under-22 football team was greeted with cheers upon arriving in Jakarta on Thursday evening (18/5/2023). A champion’ parade was held for the team on Friday morning (19/5). The players were urged not to let up in the euphoria and to take the accomplishment as the first step toward the next challenge.

The area around Gate 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport’s Terminal 3 in Tangerang, Banten, suddenly became noisy with chants of "Campiones [champions], Indonesia!" and "Tanah Air [motherland]” in tribute to the triumphant Young Garuda squad. Indonesia thumped Thailand 5-2 in the men's football final at the region’s biennial multisport showcase on Tuesday (16/5).

The welcoming throngs consisted of groups of supporters, media crews and sports officials. Among them were Beckham Putra’s parents. He scored the team’s fifth goal in the match.

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Receiving the team, Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) deputy chairman Zainudin Amali extended his appreciation to several parties, including the public, for their support. "Appreciation also goes to coaches, officials and players for their dedication and the extraordinary achievement that has made Indonesia proud,” he said, hoping that the victory was just the start of the team’s achievements. “We look ahead. God willing, Indonesian soccer will progress.”

The euphoria was palpable during the reception, with people beginning to gather at around 5 p.m. Many of them scrambled with photo journalists to take pictures as the team arrived, the situation spilling into mild disarray, which prompted security to place a cordon around the team.

Public excitement was reported from across the country, including in Surakarta, Central Java. Gatherings were organized to the watch the match as the Garuda squad overpowered Thailand to end its 32-year wait for soccer gold at the SEA Games. Indonesia last won it in 1991 in the Philippines.

We have been waiting for this for 32 years. That’s a long process.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who watched the match on television, expressed his pride over the achievement. “We have been waiting for this for 32 years. That’s a long process. The players evidently showed a champion mentality," he was videoed as saying in Medan, North Sumatra, as released by the Presidential Secretariat.

The Youth and Sports Ministry took the athletes on a champion parade on Friday starting at 8 a.m. from the ministry office to the Bung Karno sports complex via the Sudirman thoroughfare.

FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

The U-22 Indonesian football team took part in the 2023 SEA Games athlete contingent Champion Prize in the HI Roundabout area, Jakarta, Friday (19/5/2023).

This provides an impetus to improve the overall climate of Indonesian football.

Ignatius Indro, chairman of the supporter association for the national team, hailed the Young Garuda’s performance in Cambodia as having quenched the thirst for achievement and healed the prolonged pain. It also came as a solace for the nation still grieving over the deadly Kanjuruhan Tragedy and berating the fact that the country was stripped of this year’s Under-20 World Cup hosting.

Though Ignatius cautioned against excessive euphoria. So did Komarudin, a professor in football science at Yogyakarta State University, who said the Cambodian accomplishment should be viewed as a small fragment of success in the grand sport design Indonesian soccer would need to pursue.

”This provides an impetus to improve the overall climate of Indonesian football, especially in the development of young talent. It is important to ramify sustainable tiered competitions," Komarudin said.

Thai manager steps down

Following the off-pitch brawls during the final match, Thai team manager Yuttana Yimkarun announced his resignation. According to a local media, Thai Rath, Yimkarun felt guilty for the embarrassing incident which resulted in some Indonesian officials incurring minor injuries. Among them was Indonesian team manager Sumardji, who was the target of violent acts by a member of the opposing side. Thai goalkeeper Soponwit Rakyart was seen leaving the goal to get involved in the brawl.

However, not long after the incident, the violation perpetrator met Sumardji to apologize while sobbing in remorse. An apology was also extended by the Thai Football Federation (FAT), which announced that it would form a special committee to investigate the incident and seek punishment for anyone found guilty.

An investigation and disciplinary panel will also be established by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Deploring that the commotion had tarnished Asian football, the federation promised to impose sanctions on those found to have launched an attack and provoked the melee.

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"The AFC is disappointed with the disorderly incidents at the SEA Games football final. The AFC underlines the importance of fair play, mutual respect and sportsmanship, and takes a zero-tolerance approach toward all such acts of violence..." AFC spokesperson was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Kompas journalists I Gusti AB Angga Putra and Dionisius Reynaldo Triwibowo who attended the match reported that the incident unfolded when Indonesian coaches and officials broke into premature celebrations. As the match was coming to a close, with Indonesia leading Thailand 2-1, they mistook the referee’s throw-in whistle for end of game. In a fraction of second, the scoreboard changed with Thailand scoring an equalizer when Indonesia had been ready for celebrations. The second goal in the final minute of injury time prompted the Thai bench staff and players to taunt the Indonesian team officials by celebrating in front of them.

Soon after Irfan Jauhari put Indonesia back in front in extra time, Indonesian officials reciprocated by celebrating the goal before the Thailand team members, with taunting gesture of hands holding ears. Some opposing members responded by giving them a middle finger gesture, which instigated the brawl. (REUTERS/Z06)

This article was translated by Musthofid.