When it comes to coaches who revolutionized youth football in Indonesia, Indra Sjafri’s name stands out. His career isn’t just about collecting trophies, but also about building systems, fostering spirit, and giving hope to the next generation of Indonesian football.
In an interview with Telecom Asia Sport, Indra shared the beginning of his journey with the Indonesian National Team in 2011, when he was entrusted with coaching the U-16 team. However, his debut in the AFC Cup qualifiers ended in failure.
At first, I was given 56 players, selected 23, and went to Bangkok (for the AFC Cup). We lost, failed. But I wasn’t fired.
That failure led Indra to conduct a deep evaluation. Out of the 23 players, only two were playing professional football, the rest were amateurs. He sought to understand what went wrong.
I realized the recruitment was problematic. I asked to scout my own players.
With determination, he traveled across 34 provinces, visiting villages and cities to find the best talents from 2012 to 2013.
The dynamics of those two years were extraordinary. For success, the organization must be solid, there must be strong capital, and the program has to be well-prepared.
However, the struggle wasn’t easy. Along with limited financial support, his salary as a coach went unpaid for 17 months.
Yet, his persistence paid off. His dedication to finding young football talent led to the creation of Indonesia's golden generation in the U-19 national team, which made history by winning the AFF U-19 Cup in 2013 after a 22-year wait. In a dramatic final against Vietnam, a penalty shootout victory symbolized the revival of Indonesian football.
Finally, after so long, Indonesia had a team that was truly built from the ground up.
Indra’s experience didn’t end on the field. In 2018, he was invited to Juventus to study professional football management. In Turin, he observed the first team’s training sessions and a Champions League match.
The management there is much better. But I believe Indonesia’s potential is greater. We just need to manage it properly.
Back in Indonesia, Indra’s vision for developing football remains strong. He led the U-23 National Team to a silver medal at the 2019 SEA Games, before eventually securing a gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games—an achievement that had been awaited for 32 years.
Despite all his achievements, Indra remains humble.
What I’ve done is just preparing these young players as best as I can. Their future is Indonesia’s football future.
For him, football is a tool to build dreams and national pride.
Currently, Indra Sjafri is focused on coaching the U-20 National Team to prepare for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China. After guiding his team to qualify for the tournament, Indra and his coaching staff have intensified their training camps in Japan.
