Young Garudas Warned Against Complacency

The Indonesian U-22 team has won the gold medal it has been waiting for for 32 years at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games. However, this historic achievement should not cause excessive euphoria.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Convoy of U-22 Indonesian National Team vehicles passing through Jalan Sudirman, Jakarta, Friday (19/5/2023). After 32 years, the U-22 Indonesian National Team won another gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games.

TANGERANG, KOMPAS — Winning the first gold medal in 32 years at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, the Indonesian Under-22 football team was greeted with cheers upon arriving in Jakarta on Thursday evening (18/5/2023). A champion’ parade was held for the team on Friday morning (19/5). The players were urged not to let up in the euphoria and to take the accomplishment as the first step toward the next challenge.

The area around Gate 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport’s Terminal 3 in Tangerang, Banten, suddenly became noisy with chants of "Campiones [champions], Indonesia!" and "Tanah Air [motherland]” in tribute to the triumphant Young Garuda squad. Indonesia thumped Thailand 5-2 in the men's football final at the region’s biennial multisport showcase on Tuesday (16/5).