A standstill at Persija Jakarta as Thomas Doll refuses to release players for U-23 Indonesian National Team

The head coach of Persija Jakarta, Thomas Doll, has firmly indicated his opposition to allowing his players to join the U-23 Indonesian national team for the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup. This decision is grounded in several compelling reasons carefully considered by the German coach.

Thomas Doll underscored the imperative for the Kemayoran Tigers to have their players at full capacity to contend for the 2023/2024 Liga 1 title. “No (leaving the U-23 Indonesian national team). We need them (players) because there is a title hunt,” stated Thomas Doll in a recent press release on Friday, February 16, 2024.

The U-23 Indonesian national team is slated to take part in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup from April 15 to May 3, 2024 in Qatar. During this period, Persija Jakarta is scheduled to compete against Barito Putera (April 15, 2024), RANS Nusantara (April 21, 2024), and PSIS Semarang (April 28, 2024) in the Liga 1 2023/2024 season. These three fixtures are of paramount importance for Persija Jakarta as they endeavor to secure a top-four position to qualify for the championship series set from May 4-26, 2024.

In addition to the pivotal matches, the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup is not officially listed in the FIFA schedule. This factor also contributes to Thomas Doll’s decision not to release his players for the national team.

Nevertheless, the coach’s decision is not absolute. Thomas Doll indicated that he may still contemplate releasing his players to the U-23 Indonesian national team, contingent upon rational considerations. “They (players) can go (to defend the U-23 Indonesian national team) after the match or during their spare time,” added Thomas Doll.

Persija Jakarta has historically been a frequent source of players for the Garuda Squad, including Rio Fahmi, Rizky Ridho, Donny Tri Pamungkas, Muhammad Ferarri, and Muhammad Rayhan, who have been summoned to the U-23 Indonesian national team.

The situation at Persija Jakarta concerning the release of players for the U-23 Indonesian national team remains tense as Thomas Doll remains resolute in his decision. It will be intriguing to observe how this stance evolves in the run-up to the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup.