Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
For the first time in history, there are six ‘export’ players inside Indonesian National team when appearing in AFF Cup 2021 (AFF Cup 2020) and is expected to be lucky or give a championship title.
The six export-labeled players are Egy Maulana Vikri (FK Senica), Witan Sulaeman (Lechia Gdansk), Elkan Baggott (Ipswich Town), Asnawi Mangkualam Bahar (Ansan Greeners), Ryuji Utomo Prabowo (Penang FC), and Syahrian Abimanyu (Johor Darul Ta’zim).
Among these names, Egy will only be released by his club if Indonesia enters the semifinals.
For the first time the Indonesian national team was strengthened by export players in the AFF Cup in the 2007 edition. In the edition that was supposed to take place in 2006 there were two players playing in Malaysia: Ponaryo Astaman (Melaka TMFC), Bambang Pamungkas (Selangor FC).
After that, in the two editions of the AFF Cup, there were no Indonesian players who played abroad. However, an immediate spike occurred in the 2012 AFF Cup. The dualism of federation and competition made the situation not conducive.
The coach of the Indonesian national team at that time, summoned four players who appeared abroad. The four are Raphael Maitimo (Capelle), Irfan Bachdim (Chonburi), Tonnie Cusell (GVVV), Jhon van Beukering (Presikhaaf).
This also marks the progress of the Indonesian national team using the services of naturalized players. PSSI imitated Singapore’s steps by using naturalized and hereditary players and won titles in 2004 and 2007.
But fate says otherwise in Indonesia. The presence of four Dutch-Indonesian players did not control the performance. Garuda Merah Putih doesn’t even flinch. Samsul Arif Munip and friends were eliminated from Singapore and Malaysia.
In the 2014 edition there was only one export player, namely Sergio van Dijk who appeared in Thailand with Suphanburi. Next in the 2016 AFF Cup were Stefano Lilipaly (Telstar), Dedi Kusnandar (Sabah FC), and Andik Vermansah (Selangor FC).
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Playing Abroad, Be Hopeful and Focus
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