The Chairman of the PSSI (Indonesian Football Association), Erick Thohir, praised the efforts of the Garuda Muda squad competing in the U-17 Asian Cup. In the opening match of group C qualification held at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah, on Friday night (April 4, 2025, WIB), the U-17 National Team defeated the favored South Korea with a score of 1-0.
“Alhamdulillah. The extraordinary effort shown by Garuda Muda, which we’ve built together through youth player development, must be appreciated. Three points in the opening match should be celebrated as this is the result of the team’s hard work. I truly appreciate this and hope they stay motivated for the upcoming matches,” Erick said in Jakarta on Saturday (April 3).
Erick added that this crucial victory, in pursuit of the goal of qualifying for the U-17 World Cup, is proof of the hard work of the entire team, not just individuals. It also reflects the junior player development carried out by Liga 1 clubs, monitored by the PSSI through competitions such as the Elite Pro Academy (EPA), Soeratin Cup, and Liga 2, 3, and 4. Practically speaking, most of the U-17 National Team currently trained by coach Nova Arianto are part of a new generation continuously nurtured by PSSI through better-prepared youth national teams.
“PSSI remains committed to sustaining the National Team program from junior to senior levels, including the women’s team. Observing the current U-17 National Team players, they represent a new generation following PSSI’s more structured youth national team preparations. The principle is that there are no results without hard work,” he emphasized.
