The success of the Indonesian national team advancing to the 2020 AFF Cup final made a number of players start to be eyed by clubs from abroad, two names that are rumored to be trying their luck outside the homeland are Pratama Arhan, Ricky Kambuaya, and Alfeandra Dewangga.
Previously, there were already several players who chose to have careers outside Indonesia, Egy Maulana Vikri, Witan Sulaeman, and Elkan Baggott chose to try their luck in Europe, while the team captain, Asnawi Mangkualam Bahar is currently defending a South Korean club, Ansan Greeners.
Asnawi also hopes that many other Indonesian players will choose to try their luck abroad, but the right-back player also gives advice to his colleagues, namely regardless of the size of the salary they get.
Let’s Be Brave Like Asnawi Mangkualam https://t.co/NBdtc6Lo7E
— CNN Indonesia (@CNNIndonesia) January 6, 2022
“Yes, playing abroad will be something good for the Indonesian national team. I hope the players who get an offer (to play abroad) don’t turn it down,” Asnawi said as reported by CNN Indonesia.
“It would be a good thing for career development, especially because they are younger than me. Hopefully they don’t turn it down, even if they can just accept it, no matter what the salary and so on. That’s the risk of playing outside, we have to fight first before getting good results,” he added.
Asnawi Mangkualam began to try his luck in South Korea in January 2021, so far he has appeared in 15 matches, the last time the 22-year-old player also just extended his contract with Ansan Greeners until 2023.
