October 27, 2025 | 07:09 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) National Team Agency (BTN), Sumardji, said the U-17 national team’s 1–2 defeat to Paraguay in a friendly match in Dubai is not a cause for concern.
He emphasized that the focus remains on how well the players can execute the tactics and game plan set by head coach Nova Arianto.
“What matters most is how the players carry out their roles according to the coach’s instructions and overall strategy,” Sumardji told Tempo on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
The friendly match was part of Garuda Muda’s preparation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 in Qatar. The match took place at Field II of the Al Hamriyah Club complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday night, October 25, at 10 p.m. Jakarta time.
According to Sumardji, coach Nova rotated nearly all players throughout the game to test different combinations and maintain match fitness. He said the main takeaways from the match were the need to maintain focus until the final whistle and to stay disciplined in carrying out the coach’s game plan.
The match was played at a fast tempo and featured open attacking football. Indonesia took the lead through Fadly Alberto Hengga in the first half, but Paraguay equalized through Jose Buhring in the 70th minute and secured victory with Mauricio De Carvalho’s injury-time goal in the 90+2 minute.
Garuda Muda will next face Ivory Coast on October 27, replacing South Africa, which withdrew from the scheduled fixture. The final warm-up match will be against Panama on October 30.
These three friendlies are designed to fine-tune the team’s strategy, mentality, and physical sharpness ahead of the tournament.
“The evaluation remains the same. The players must stay focused until the very end. It is all about mental strength, physical readiness, and game intelligence,” said Sumardji.
He added that the team has started to understand the tactical approach implemented by Nova Arianto.
“The key now is execution. Everything must be done precisely as planned,” he said, noting that despite the defeat, the players’ performance was fairly consistent and promising.
The match against Paraguay was held behind closed doors, without spectators or an official broadcast.
“The development of these young players is quite good. Hopefully, the results will continue to improve,” Sumardji said.
After completing their training camp and friendly matches in Dubai, the U-17 squad will depart for Qatar on November 1 for their final phase of adaptation.
Coach Nova’s main focus will be on improving communication between the lines, finishing accuracy, and tactical coordination against stronger opponents.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 will take place in Qatar from November 3 to 27, 2025. Indonesia is drawn in Group H with Brazil, Honduras, and Zambia.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams will also qualify for the knockout stage.
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