KURNIAWAN Dwi Yulianto, born on July 13, 1976, in Magelang, Central Java, is one of Indonesia’s football legends. His journey with the national team began at a young age, playing for Indonesia’s U-16 and U-19 squads before making his way to the senior team. His raw talent and sharp goal-scoring instincts quickly set him apart.
In the early 1990s, the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) launched the Primavera Project, an ambitious program in partnership with Sampdoria. The idea was to send Indonesia’s top young players to Italy to train and compete at a higher level. Kurniawan, a standout striker from the Ragunan training center, was among those selected.
I never imagined I’d get the chance to go there. My childhood dream was simple, get on a plane, appear on TV, and travel abroad for free. After joining the Salatiga training center, my goal changed. I wanted a scholarship. But fate had other plans. I was called up to Ragunan, and from there, I made it into Primavera after a selection process involving 100 players.
During the 1993-94 season, the Primavera squad competed in Italy’s youth league against the U-19 teams of Serie A clubs. Kurniawan’s performances, particularly his ability to score goals, caught the attention of European scouts. A highlight was when Sampdoria included him in their Asia tour in 1994, which featured a match in Jakarta.
At 16, in Primavera, I learned what it meant to be a real footballer. I saw how players valued themselves. The coaching methods were completely different from Indonesia. It wasn’t just about physical training, it was about tactics, teamwork, and discipline.
After completing the Primavera program, Kurniawan signed with Swiss club FC Luzern in 1995, making him one of the first Indonesian players to play professionally in Europe.
I take pride in being a player who started my professional career abroad, at FC Luzern. It’s a personal milestone. “I’ll never forget finishing fourth in the league and playing in the Intertoto Cup, trying to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Playing against clubs like Tottenham Hotspur with Jürgen Klinsmann, imagine, a kid from Magelang up against Klinsmann!
His European experience shaped him as a player and paved the way for future Indonesian footballers to dream of playing abroad.
Upon returning to Indonesia, Kurniawan immediately joined the national team for the 1995 SEA Games.
That was my first time in the senior team, and honestly, I felt intimidated at first. I had just come back from Europe, and the squad was filled with top players.
On the domestic front, Kurniawan played for Indonesia’s biggest clubs, including Pelita Jaya, PSM Makassar, Persija Jakarta, and Persebaya Surabaya, scoring 200 goals in 406 appearances. With the national team, he netted 33 goals in 59 matches, making him one of Indonesia’s all-time top scorers. His speed, agility, and lethal finishing made him a constant threat, especially in Indonesia’s famous 3-2 win over Kuwait in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, where he found the back of the net.
After retiring as a player, Kurniawan transitioned into coaching. In December 2019, he was appointed head coach of Malaysia’s Sabah FA. Under his leadership, the club remained in the top tier and showed significant progress.
In January 2022, another unexpected opportunity came his way, Como 1907 offered him a role as an assistant coach.
The offer came from one of the club’s Indonesian directors. At the time, I was still under contract with Sabah FA, so I had to finish that first. I’m grateful for the opportunity. Honestly, I never thought I’d get the chance.
At Como, Kurniawan played a key role in building a strong squad, which eventually made history. In the 2023/24 season, Como finished as Serie B runners-up, earning promotion to Serie A for the 2024/25 season. It was the club’s long-awaited return to Italy’s top flight after 21 years. Alongside his duties with the senior team, Kurniawan also coached Como’s Primavera U-19 squad, helping develop young talents ready for professional football.
However, in early 2025, he decided to return home and accepted a role as assistant coach for Indonesia’s U-20 national team under Indra Sjafri, focusing on developing the country’s young strikers.
This is my way of giving back to Indonesian football.
From a small-town boy who once dreamed of simply boarding a plane to becoming part of a club that fought its way to Serie A, Kurniawan’s journey proves that with hard work and determination, no dream is too big.
