U.23 Indonesia still has a source of naturalized players
Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are the leading football teams in Southeast Asia. The U.23 teams of Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand are also the strongest candidates for the gold medal in the men's football event of the 33rd SEA Games. U.23 Indonesia is the defending champion of the tournament, Thailand is the host of the tournament, and U.23 Vietnam is the team that has won the U.23 Southeast Asia championship for 3 consecutive times, and we have officially set the goal of reaching the final of the SEA Games.
U.23 Indonesia (white shirt) wants to surpass U.23 Vietnam at SEA Games 33
Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang
After U.23 Indonesia and U.23 Thailand lost the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 Championship to U.23 Vietnam, they will be determined to beat us again at SEA Games 33 to regain their position. In theory, the youth teams of the archipelago country and the land of golden pagodas can significantly change their squads at the SEA Games.
With U.23 Indonesia, they also have at least 4 bright stars in the age group of 22 (the age group allowed to participate in the 33rd SEA Games) who are not present at the 2025 U.23 Southeast Asian tournament. These include central defender Jusin Hubner (Dutch origin, 22 years old, 1.87 m tall, Fortuna Sittard Club, Netherlands), midfielder Ivar Jenner (Dutch origin, 21 years old, 1.86 m tall, Utrecht Club, Netherlands), Marselino Ferdinan (21 years old, 1.78 m tall, Oxford United Club, England) and striker Rafael Struick (Dutch origin, 22 years old, 1.85 m tall, Dewa United Banten Club, Indonesia).
If these players agree to wear the U.23 Indonesia team jersey at the 33rd SEA Games, the young team of the archipelago will be extremely strong. Among them, Justin Hubner, Ivar Jenner and Rafael Struick are naturalized players who can significantly improve the physique, fitness and playing mindset of the U.23 Indonesia team.
U.23 Vietnam and U.23 Thailand can also change greatly.
Meanwhile, although Thailand U.23 does not have as many naturalized players as Indonesia U.23, the young team of the Golden Temple country still has "reserves" in the group of young players old enough to participate in the SEA Games.
U.23 Vietnam may also have changes.
Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang
These players include central defender Chanon Tamma (21 years old, BG Pathum United Club, Thailand), midfielder Kakana Khamyok (21 years old, Muangthong United Club, Thailand), right-back Waris Choolthong (21 years old, BG Pathum United Club, Thailand), defensive midfielder William Weidersjo (Swedish origin, 21 years old, Uthai Thani Club, Thailand), striker Phanthamit Praphanth (22 years old, DP Kanchanaburi Club, Thailand).
These are all Thai national team players, they are not present at the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament, but can appear at the 33rd SEA Games, if the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) reaches an agreement with domestic clubs.
As the opponents change, U.23 Vietnam is also likely to make big changes. In terms of personnel, we have yet to use a series of young players who are still old enough to compete in the SEA Games, including Manh Hung, Duc Viet, Hong Phuc, Nam Hai, Xuan Tien...
In terms of expertise, young Vietnamese football players can all gain more experience, courage and capacity after going through half of the 2025-2026 V-League season. In particular, with those who have never played in the V-League before, such as central defender Hieu Minh and full-back Vo Anh Quan, they will be completely different if they play in the national football championship.
Not only that, U.23 Vietnam can change even more, in case young overseas Vietnamese players appear more in V-League 2025-2026, at the same time they prove their ability, strong enough to participate in the Southeast Asian Games at the end of the year.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cang-mat-cho-u23-viet-nam-indonesia-va-thai-lan-dua-vo-dich-sea-games-185250803131945706.htm
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