So wat does dat abridged history lesson have to do wif anything? Well lemme tell u…
Around 2024, a (reserved) player from the club I support in England was an official Indonesian player. I tot oh shit dats pretty cool. So I looked him up:
Hmmmmm. Dats a very European name he’s got there. Caucasian-looking face too. U sure it’s the right guy?
Turns out, a bunch of Dutch players in recent times have (conveniently) been collectively discovering dat they have Indonesian heritage. Dis came abt back from whatever I said in part one. Perhaps their ancestors were part of the ones trading opium all across Asia 🤔
I had oso started supporting the Indonesian team around dis time. Idk why, but I was never genuinely passionate abt the Singapore team. Somehow, it felt different wif dis “Timnas“, so it was easy to switch allegiance. I guess it’s just something dat the heart decides ♥️
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Anyways, u wld think dat wif a bunch of players playing in Netherlands migrating here to the lands of rice fields, to play Southeast Asian football (legit one of the worst regions when it comes to football), dat things wld improve significantly.
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Yea well for some reason, you’d be wrong. As we can see in recent performances…
Ok tbf, they have been doing better in FIFA-sanctioned competitions, I won’t deny dat…
But honestly, I feel like everything shld be better, lol. Dat includes the regional competitions dat take place here.
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I’ve mentioned the AFF Cup before. The competition only us Southeast Asians care abt:
Indonesia has somehow never won dis tournament before. Quite embarrassing considering the relative population, as well as the sports’ popularity…
But in the rendition of the tournamnet just prior to bringing in the Dutch bois (in 2021), they managed to reach the finals. Sure they got thrashed, but at least they made it.
Now wif strong Dutch reinforcements, you’d think they’ll go one better rite? Win the trophy perhaps…?
But nope. Somehow they got knocked out in the group stage (which is terrible btw). Not only dat, but it happened twice in a row (2024 and 2026). By a bunch of minnows. Including Singapore 💀
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Even besides the AFF cup, if we take a look at the SEA Games (another mini Olympics only Southeast Asians care abt), we can see dat b4 the arrival of dis Belanda friends, Indonesia managed to win the whole damn thing:
And afterwards… they were….
…knocked out in the group stage as well, holy shit. Wat da hell 😣
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It’s mind boggling how they’ve gotten much worse, when they’ve brought in seemingly better players.
Maybe it’s the lack of chemistry. Maybe it’s the coaches not knowing wat to do wif the talent they have. Or maybe the minnows of Southeast Asia are all just genuinely decent teams now (which I can’t deny is happening).
Either way, u can’t help but feel there is so much talent being wasted at the current moment…
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But I won’t give up hope. I’m sure there will be better days ahead. All I hope is dat the local abangs and Belanda bois can work together to make it work…. somehow…. eventually….
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Btw, one of the managers they hired recently was legendary Dutch player Patrick Kluivert.
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Unfortunately, his stint was awful. And the Indonesian fans didn’t hold back wif the online hate. My favourite were the comments saying dat instead of hiring Patrick Kluivert, they got Patrick Star instead…
I can’t lie, dat was peak comedy amidst the misery…
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09.08.2026
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