Indonesia U-20 Coach Eyes Diaspora Talent for AFF U-19

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian U-20 national team is set to welcome fresh talent from abroad, with head coach Nova Arianto confirming plans to call up seven diaspora players for the upcoming AFF U-19 Championship 2026, scheduled for June 1–14 in North Sumatra.

“We plan to call seven diaspora players, and we’ll see how the situation develops,” Nova told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

While he did not reveal the full list, he confirmed that Matthew Baker is among those being considered. Baker will first compete in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026 in May before potentially joining the U-20 squad.

Nova explained that the U-20 team’s training camp will begin on May 10, starting in Yogyakarta before moving to Surabaya, East Java, as part of a structured preparation program. He noted that the players’ development has been encouraging, with growing maturity in both tactical understanding and mental resilience.

“I think the players need international trials to be better prepared for the upcoming qualifiers,” Nova said, stressing that exposure to global competition is essential.

He added that international matches provide a different tempo, intensity, and quality compared to domestic games, making them crucial for shaping Indonesia’s young talents.

With the inclusion of diaspora players and a carefully planned training program, the Garuda Muda are aiming not only to perform strongly at the AFF U-19 Championship but also to build a foundation for success in future international competitions. ***