Thomas Doll, the coach of Persija Jakarta, has unequivocally declared that he will not permit his players to participate in the U-23 Indonesian national team for the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup. This decision is based on several significant factors as articulated by the German coach.
Doll has underscored the necessity for his team, the Kemayoran Tigers, to have all their players at their disposal in order to contend for the 2023/2024 Liga 1 title. “No (departure for the U-23 Indonesian national team). We need them (players) because there is a title hunt,” Doll asserted in a statement.
The 2024 U-23 Asian Cup is slated to occur from April 15 to May 3, 2024 in Qatar, coinciding with crucial matches for Persija in Liga 1 2023/2024 against Barito Putera, RANS Nusantara, and PSIS Semarang. These matches are imperative for Persija Jakarta to clinch a top-four finish in the league, a prerequisite for qualification for the championship series scheduled from May 4-26, 2024.
Additionally, the status of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup does not align with the official FIFA agenda, further justifying Doll’s hesitancy to release his players. Nonetheless, Doll’s decision is not definitive; he is amenable to considering the release of players to the U-23 Indonesian national team under rational circumstances.
Doll has intimated the possibility of permitting players to join the U-23 Indonesian national team after the matches or during their spare time. Despite his current stance, Persija Jakarta has a history of regularly contributing players to the Garuda Squad, including Rio Fahmi, Rizky Ridho, Donny Tri Pamungkas, Muhammad Ferarri, and Muhammad Rayhan.
The evolution of Doll’s stance remains to be seen as the tournament approaches, but for the time being, his focus is on ensuring the availability of his players for a demanding and critical period in the Liga 1 2023/2024 season.
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