Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Shin Tae Yong face the harsh reality because Indonesian National team the South Korean coach’s best player could not be strengthened when he appeared in the 2020 AFF Cup (2021) in December.
The old formula when the AFF Cup took place, was re-applied by PSSI. Shin is only allowed to choose a maximum of two players per club for the biennial Southeast Asian championship. Shin’s freedom was restricted by the federation.
PSSI’s policy of only allowing the Indonesian national team coach to call two players per club came into effect in the 2016 edition. At that time, the Indonesian national team was handled by Alfred Riedl and surprisingly managed to reach the final round.
This achievement then became a kind of hypothesis for PSSI and club officials with a policy of two players per club which became a peaceful way with the club because the competition was still running, the Indonesian national team could still perform optimally.
“Many have raised objections to us, such as yesterday that Persebaya was taken by four, Persib was also the same, so it was decided that the maximum is two players per club, and Shin Tae-yong has agreed with that.”
“Sometimes the remaining players are like taking four of one club, sometimes two are not used, so it’s a pity for the clubs whose players are quite potential or good enough at the club,” said PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan, Wednesday 10/11).
The concept that the national team is a collection of the best players from a country according to the coach’s version, has actually been embodied by PSSI and this country’s football club. The history of the AFF Cup, where the coach’s freedom to choose players is endless, so it’s kind of an argument.
Since the inaugural edition of the AFF Cup in 1996 until the 2014 edition, there has always been a club as the biggest contributor to the Indonesian national team. In the 1996 edition Persebaya and Persipura contributed three players, then in 1998 Persebaya dominated with 11 players.
Then in 2000 there were five players from Persija Jakarta, then in 2002 there were four players from Persija and Persikota Tangerang, then in 2004 there were five players from PSM Makassar, and in 2007 there were three players from PSMS Medan and Persija.
For the 2008 edition there were five Persija players in the AFF Cup squad, then in the 2010 edition there were five Sriwijaya FC and Arema Indonesia players, and in 2014 there were six Persib Bandung players. The 2012 edition is evenly distributed because there is a dualism of competition.
Shin firmly stated that the policy of only being able to call up two players per club for the Indonesian national team was detrimental. However, the former South Korean coach at the 2018 World Cup still sets the target of winning in Singapore.
“It is indeed detrimental to the Indonesian national team, but the development of Liga 1 is also needed, so that Indonesian football is more advanced. [Untuk saat ini] we relented, but there was an agreement with the League, [klub] want to release more than two players for the AFF Cup,” said Shin.
Shin adhered to his stance that the 2020 AFF Cup was one of his promises during negotiations with PSSI. At the end of 2019, Shin was chosen by PSSI over Luis Milla Aspas because he was sure he could meet PSSI’s target of winning the 2020 AFF Cup.
Unfortunately, when Shin kept his promise, PSSI was half-hearted. PSSI, who asked for the champion, made restrictions. Shin’s right to summon players deemed fit for his main character was amputated in the name of the competition.
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Competition Policy in ASEAN During the AFF Cup
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