Indonesia Wins the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, Sergio van Dijk Shares Crucial Notes
Former Persib Bandung and Indonesian national team striker Sergio van Dijk expressed his delight over the Garuda squad’s success in winning the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. However, Van Dijk reminded stakeholders that this title must have a lasting impact on youth player development.
Van Dijk acknowledged that Indonesia’s triumph in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup paid off the patience of the public, who have long awaited major silverware in football—especially as an official title secured under the auspices of world football’s governing body, FIFA.
In terms of tactical performance, the player affectionately known as SVD praised head coach John Herdman for maximizing the potential of his squad. The championship victory further consolidates Indonesia’s status as the powerhouse of Southeast Asian football.
“Yes, it’s great. As you saw yourselves, the national team achieved success, and their vision is to become a highly competitive football nation at the international level,” Sergio told reporters.
However, Van Dijk pointed out that Indonesia’s current success is largely a short-term outcome driven by the integration of naturalized players. While their presence has significantly elevated the quality of the national team, he emphasized that this approach must be backed by long-term strategies.
He added that winning the title has sparked the dreams of young children across the country who aspire to wear the national team jersey. Therefore, Indonesian football must reinvest heavily in grassroots development to sustain its achievements over the long run.
“What is happening now is good, but it might be short-term. We need to look at the long term, and that means we have to focus on the grassroots level as well,” he concluded.
