Ajax Opens Path for Indonesian Young Talents Through Future Cup

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Ajax Amsterdam is reinforcing its reputation as a club built on talent development, as CEO Menno Geelen stressing that nurturing potential is as vital as recruiting standout youth players.

Speaking at the Indonesia Sports Summit (ISS) 2026 in Jakarta, Geelen outlined Ajax’s long‑term strategy for sustainable football growth.

Joined by Head of Football Partnership Corne Groenendijk, Geelen also opened the door for Indonesian youngsters to join Ajax’s development programs and compete in the Future Cup, the club’s annual youth tournament in Amsterdam.

“The right talent is not always the best talent,” Geelen noted, as quoted on the Indonesian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports official website, underscoring Ajax’s philosophy of identifying players who can grow into senior‑level contributors.

Ajax’s global partner network plays a central role in this approach, sharing training methodologies and selecting top youth players from partner clubs to form teams that train under Ajax coaches and compete in the Future Cup.

Groenendijk even projected that Indonesian players could feature in next year’s edition. “In the coming years, there will be Indonesian footballers in this picture,” he said while showing images of international talents training with Ajax.

In past programs, Ajax assembled 18 players from countries including Japan and Mexico to form Future United, a team that trained for six days before finishing third in the Future Cup.

Beyond player development, Geelen emphasized the importance of club identity and philosophy. He argued that clear values and playing style are essential to ensure continuity despite changes in players, coaches, or management.

“Past achievements do not automatically guarantee future success. Clubs must build consistent long‑term strategies, especially in player development and organizational culture,” he said.

For Ajax, this philosophy is not only about producing quality players but also about safeguarding the club’s sustainability. ***