Indonesia U23 Squad Finalized for ASEAN U23 Cup 2025 in Jakarta

The Indonesian Football Federation has now officially settled on a 23-man list of competitors who will take part in the annual ASEAN U23 Championship 2025. The Asian Games are set to be co-hosted in Jakarta and Bekasi with the regional tournament taking place between July and 15-29. Under the leadership of the head coach Gerald Vanenburg, the team is to become an improved version of the previous stages in order to present an even better performance as one appreciated by the home crowd.

Among the biggest areas of discussion before the tournament is the inclusion of defender Frengky Missa, who had been locked out following the open training session on July 10. His presence in the last list is a direct substitute of Mikael Tata who has also been hospitalized recently because of his ailment.

Vanenburg detailed the last moment change during a press briefing at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium. He made it clear that there was no strategic background behind Missa returning because she simply was there to simply fill the position where Tata used to be as he will stay in the medical facility at least another week.

Vanenburg also talked about the absence of another major player Rivaldo Pakpahan. The midfielder had suffered an injury which he could not overcome in time hence he was taken out of the squad. “It’s not a matter of performance or form. It is that he did not have enough time to recover, said the coach.

The last line-up is a mix between experience and new talent. Other players such as Hokky Caraka, Arkhan Fikri, and Muhammad Ferarri come with experience in exposure to the seniors national team, totaling up to the total of 24 international appearances. Their incorporation will hopefully lead to the supply of leadership and competitiveness to the young team.

Interestingly, the team has included some players, who participated in the recent international youth competitions like U20 Asian Cup. Others such as Kadek Arel, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Jens Raven and Alfharezzi Buffon have moved up through the junior stages and are in a larger venue.

Vanenburg’s selection also includes multiple alumni of Shin Tae-yong’s squad from the 2024 edition of the same tournament, further emphasizing the coaching staff’s intent to build a core group of players capable of long-term development.

Here is the final squad list for Indonesia U23:

Goalkeepers:

• Cahya Supriadi (PSIM)
• Daffa Fasya (Borneo FC)
• Muhammad Ardiansyah (PSM)

Defenders:

• Kadek Arel (Bali United)
• Muhammad Ferarri (Free Agent)
• Alfharezzi Buffon (Borneo FC)
• Brandon Scheunemann (Arema FC)
• Ahmad Maulana (Arema FC)
• Kakang Rudianto (Persib)
• Frengky Missa (Bhayangkara Presisi Lampung FC)

Midfielders:

• Roby Darwis (Persib)
• Toni Firmansyah (Persebaya)
• Muhammad R. Hannan (Persija)
• Dony Tri Pamungkas (Persija)
• Yardan Yafi (Persita)
• Arkhan Fikri (Arema FC)

Forwards:

• Victor Dethan (PSM)
• Althaf Indie Alrizky (Persis)
• Hokky Caraka (PSS)
• Jens Raven (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
• Dominikus Dion (PSS)
• Firman Juliansyah (Semen Padang)
• Rahmat Arjuna Reski (Bali United)

Coach Vanenburg has decided to utilize a flexible squad structure whereby players are not concentrated in any particular position. The team has three goalkeepers, ten defenders and midfielders jointly plus figure ten attacking players, to allow the coaching staff to experiment in regard to tactics at the stage of the group games.

Indonesia has been attracted to Group A where they will open against Brunei Darussalam. The first game shall be considered as a test game to Vanenburg young team in an eye to begin well. Having the support of the home and a relative environment, there is a high expectation of the Garuda Muda getting far in the tournament.