Proliga clash schedule, National Volleyball Team can only rely on young players

Like the women's national team, the Indonesian men's national volleyball team can only rely on young players in the AVC Challenge Cup.

HUMAS PP PBVSI

Jakarta Garuda Jaya player, Fauzan Nibras, did a spike when facing Lavani Allo Bank Electric in the opening match of the PLN Mobile Proliga 2024 at GOR Amongrogo, Yogyakarta, Thursday (25/4/2024). Fauzan is one of the young players called up to strengthen the national team in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The lack of synchronization of domestic competition schedules and international events means that the volleyball national team cannot maximize their squad for the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup. The schedule clashes with the Indonesian professional volleyball league , Proliga, is the reason the national team can only be strengthened by young players for the first tournament on the world stage.

The Central Management of the Indonesian Volleyball Association has called up 14 players to compete in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup in Bahrain on June 2-9. Nine of these players are from Jakarta Garuda Jaya, the new Proliga 2024 team consisting of U-20 players.

If Indonesia doesn't send (team), we'll lose points. Yesterday, our ranking has already increased, it would be a shame to drop again because we didn't participate in the AVC Challenge Cup. On the other hand, timing is tight between the AVC and Proliga.

Several young players from other clubs also completed it. They are Muhammad Gan Loveano Helmi (Palembang Bank Sumsel Babel), Putrada Tri Nugroho (Lavani Allo Bank Electric), and Yohanes Dedi Prasasti (Jakarta STIN BIN). There are also two Samator players who are absent from Proliga this year, Ega Yuri Pradana and Rama Fazza Fauzan.

Also read: Contradictions of the Dreams of the Women's National Volleyball Team

Before the list of players called out on Friday (24/5/2024), the Chairman of PP PBVSI, Imam Sudjarwo, has confirmed that Indonesia will indeed be strengthened by young players in the AVC Challenge Cup. This is because senior players are currently competing in the second round of Proliga 2024 at GOR Indoor Jalak Harupat, Bandung, from 6-9 June 2024.

HUMAS PP PBVSI

Chairman of the Central Board of the Indonesian Volleyball Association, Imam Sudjarwo

"If Indonesia doesn't send, we'll lose the points. Yesterday our ranking went up, we can't let it go down again because we don't participate in the AVC Challenge Cup. On the other hand, time is running out between the AVC and Proliga," said Imam in Jakarta some time ago.

The Indonesian men's volleyball national team currently occupies the 52nd spot in the world rankings with a score of 61.27 points. In last year's AVC Challenge Cup, Indonesia scored 5.53 points thanks to victories over Sri Lanka, Bahrain, and Kazakhstan. However, Indonesia also lost 2.11 points after losing to Thailand in the quarterfinals and Australia in the fifth-place play-off.

Last year, Proliga 2023 was held from January 5 to March 19, so as not to clash with the AVC Challenge 2023 which took place on July 8-15. As a result, Indonesia could be strengthened by its best players. Most of the squad was taken from players who won gold at the SEA Games in Cambodia 2023, such as Fahri Septian Putratama, Farhan Halim, Dio Zulfikri, and Doni Haryono. There are also two new names, namely Irpan and Cep Indra Agustin.

Also read: Including Megawati ”Megatron”, 14 Players Called for the AVC Challenge Cup

Meanwhile, this year PBVSI relies on players mostly taken from Jakarta Garuda Jaya squad. This team is Indonesia's U-20 team, intentionally included by Proliga to hone and prepare themselves for participation in the Asian Men's U20 Volleyball Championship in Surabaya, East Java, from 23-30 July.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

The atmosphere of the match between Jakarta STIN BIN (white) and Jakarta Garuda Jaya (red) in the 2024 Proliga series in Palembang, South Sumatra, at the Palembang Sport and Convention Center on Saturday (11/5/2024). STIN BIN was able to crush Garuda Jaya, which was occupied by U-20 Indonesian national team players, with a score of 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-14). STIN BIN also sits firmly at the top of the standings.

Imam stated that notifications from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) regarding international competition schedules often come after PBVSI has arranged domestic competition schedules. As a result, it is difficult for Indonesia to adjust the schedule to be in line with international competitions because domestic competitions have already started.

When asked about the anticipation to avoid conflicting competition schedules, Imam explained that the only way taken is to rotate players. "Our son is currently in Proliga, so he can't be called up, it's too tight. So, we worked around it by adding players from Proliga to the Garuda Jaya team, but as reserves or backups. We took it from there (as a solution)," said Imam.

Initially, this solution was only applied by PBVSI for the men's national team. However, in the end, the women's national team competing in the AVC Challenge Cup on May 22-29, 2024 also relied on young players after their main players were not released by their clubs. Although there is currently a competition break until June 6, the schedule that is too tight with Proliga is suspected to be the reason why clubs do not allow their players to participate.

Also read: Indonesian Women's Volleyball Maintains Perfection

However, the AVC Challenge is the gateway to appear in world competitions, such as the National Volleyball League (VNL). This year is Indonesia's last chance to qualify for the VNL through the AVC Challenge Cup. The champion of the AVC Challenge has the right to represent Asia in the FIVB Challenger Cup, a tournament under FIVB. Then, the winner of the FIVB Challenger Cup has the opportunity to appear in the VNL, replacing the last-placed team in the VNL who has been relegated.

KOMPAS/REBIYYAH SALASAH

Young player Lavani, Yohanes Dedi, gave a statement to the media after defeating BNP-BIN Pasundan on the opening day of the 2023 Livoli Main Division Tangerang series at the Indoor Sports Center Kelapa Dua, Tangerang Regency, Monday night (6/11/2023).

Despite the issue of schedule synchronization that arose due to the AVC Challenge Cup, this event finally provided an opportunity for young players to step up and show their skills. Yohanes Dedi Prasasti, for example, was able to realize his dream of being called up to the national team.

While strengthening Lavani in the highest amateur volleyball competition in Indonesia, Livoli Divisi Utama 2023, Dedi became one of the standout players. With a powerful hitting ability and a jump of up to 3.5 meters, this 190 cm tall player often becomes the driving force in the team's attack.

The AVC Challenge Cup also gave Garuda Jaya's youngest player, Fauzan Nibras (15), the opportunity to make his debut for the national team. Fauzan Nibras is also in the spotlight after scoring 57 points for Garuda Jaya in Proliga this season.