As the SEA Games 2023 in Cambodia drew near, Persib Bandung midfielder Dedi Kusnandar shared a special message for the Indonesian U-22 national team. Drawing on his own experience, he urged the squad to stay focused and fight for the gold medal that eluded him a decade earlier.
Indonesia was placed in Group A alongside host nation Cambodia and three other countries. The tournament represented a significant opportunity for the young Garuda squad to make history.
Reflecting on SEA Games 2013
Dedi Kusnandar served as captain of the Indonesian U-23 team during the 2013 SEA Games. That campaign ended with a silver medal after a narrow 0–1 defeat to Thailand in the final — a result that still resonates with him.
"I shared my experience from the 2013 SEA Games. We came so close. This team has the quality to go one step further and bring home the gold."
The 2013 silver remains Indonesia's best recent result in the men's football competition at the SEA Games. Kusnandar's message carried the weight of someone who had been on that stage and understood what was at stake.
Aiming for the First Gold
The U-22 squad entered the 2023 tournament with the clear objective of securing Indonesia's first-ever gold medal in SEA Games men's football. Kusnandar expressed confidence that the current generation had the talent and mentality to achieve what previous teams could not.
His words served as both encouragement and a reminder: the path to gold demands discipline, unity, and relentless effort from the opening match to the final whistle.