No Reserve Players in the Indonesian U-17 National Team Squad

JAKARTA – Coach Indonesian National Team U-17 , Nova Arianto, spoke about the emergence of the opinion of a player being a substitute in his squad. Nova understands why such an opinion could emerge, but he firmly ensures that there will be no player being a substitute in his squad.

Nova can understand the opinion of the players who are being entrusted to appear because the Indonesian U-17 National Team has a different situation from the Indonesian National Team in other age groups such as U-20 and U-23. The reason is, the squad Young Garuda completely formed from scratch, aka inhabited by new players.

“There must be many people who have opinions (about the players being transferred) and I can understand that,” said Nova, quoted from the Indonesian National Team Youtube channel, Monday (12/8/2024).

“Because the situation is that the U-16 National Team is a new team. In the U-20 National Team, you can see the results of players from the U-17 World Cup, for example. Meanwhile, the U-23 National Team can see from the U-20 National Team,” he continued.

That’s why according to Nova, many people think that there will be a player who is a proxy in his squad. However, Shin Tae-yong’s assistant firmly denied the issue. The former Persib Bandung player doesn’t care at all even though there is a player who has a big name behind him.

“However, it is true that the U-16 National Team consists of new players and many people might think that there are players who are being promoted, there is this kid, that kid, I assure you there are none!” Nova stressed.

As is known, Nova had conducted a player selection in Jakarta to later undergo further training camp (TC) in Bali. In the selection process, Nova was really observant in ensuring the players who were worthy to be brought.

Now, Nova is bringing 35 players to undergo TC in Bali. The purpose of the TC is to unite the existing players with the players selected in Jakarta which was carried out last week.

The Indonesian U-17 National Team TC in Bali is planned to take place from 12 to the end of August 2024. After that, the team led by Nova Arianto will return to Jakarta before continuing the TC in Spain.

It is no wonder that the Indonesian U-17 National Team is truly matured. Because the Garuda Muda squad is prepared to appear in the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification in Kuwait on October 19-27, 2024. In the event, they are included in Group G with Australia, Kuwait and the Northern Mariana Islands.

(sto)