The Indonesia U22 national football team is poised to benefit significantly from the recent withdrawal of Cambodia from the men’s football event at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, hosted in Thailand. This development has reshaped the tournament’s group stage, particularly for the defending champions.
Cambodia’s unexpected withdrawal initially left Group A with only two teams: host nation Thailand and East Timor. To prevent a complete re-drawing of the tournament groups and maintain competitive balance, the Southeast Asian Games organizers made a strategic adjustment. Singapore, originally placed in Group C, was subsequently moved to Group A.
This restructuring has left Group C with a streamlined roster of three teams: Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. For the Indonesian squad, this means their group stage commitments have been reduced from three matches to just two, a change that team officials believe will yield substantial advantages.
Kombes Pol Sumardji, the leader of the Indonesia U22 delegation, confirmed the positive impact of Cambodia’s withdrawal on his team. “Naturally, Cambodia’s withdrawal is highly beneficial for Indonesia,” Sumardji conveyed to the Indonesian newspaper Bolasport. “We now face only Myanmar and the Philippines in our group. This reduction in fixtures will provide our players with additional time for crucial rest, intensive training, and an opportunity to enhance their physical health and mental well-being in Thailand.”
The Indonesia U22 team is scheduled to kick off their Group C campaign against the Philippines on December 8th, followed by a clash with Myanmar four days later. The squad arrived in Thailand on November 28th, granting them approximately ten days to acclimatize to the weather conditions in Chiang Mai before their opening match.
Under the guidance of head coach Indra Sjafri, the team has a clear objective: to successfully defend the gold medal they clinched at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. In that memorable final, Indonesia triumphed over Thailand with a 5-2 victory in extra time, showcasing their resilience and skill.
