BRI Indonesia LKG Team Finalizes Game Plan for Gothia Cup 2025

BOGOR, KOMPAS — In pursuit of maximum achievement at the Gothia Cup 2025, the LKG BRI Indonesia team has been focused on refining their game plan during the final phase of training camp in Cisarua, Bogor Regency, West Java, which concluded on Monday (23/6/2025). Two friendly matches that have been played ended with convincing victories.

For six days, 18 LKG BRI Indonesia players who will be the only Indonesian ambassadors in the Boys 15 category (15-year-old men) at the 2025 Gothia Cup have been training intensively. The cool air of the Puncak area which is covered in fog every afternoon gives the players an idea to prepare for the mild climate in Gotheburg, Sweden.

In addition, they also began to get used to getting away from rice as the main source of carbohydrates. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, pasta, spaghetti, bread, and oats became substitutes for rice. Eggs, meat, and vegetables were always present in the food menu during the training camp in order to provide nutritional balance for the "Laskar Kera Sakti" squad.

The preparation of non-technical factors complements the technical refinement that includes game tactics. Individual training for players to play in two different positions, except for the goalkeeper, opens up a wealth of formation variations that can be played in the Gothia Cup 2025, known as the "youth world cup."

The main formation of the LKG BRI Indonesia team, trained by the coaching duo Tb Wahyudin Syah and Eddy, with assistance from the Tim 11 analysts, is 4-3-3. Other formations that have been tried with the players during training sessions since Thursday (19/5/2025) include 4-2-1-3, 4-4-2, 3-4-3, and 5-3-2.

The use of that formation is adjusted to face opponents with different characteristics. Although it is based on a philosophy of playing offensively with short passes, LKG BRI Indonesia also prepares to adopt a pragmatic style when competing against opponents with better offensive capabilities.

The formation change was tested in a friendly match against SSB Indonesia Muda Bogor on Saturday (21/6/2025) afternoon, at the Bromelia Sport Center, Bogor, West Java. The training match lasted for 3 x 25 minutes.

The match was temporarily halted just eight minutes into the first half due to fog that limited visibility. The field appeared completely white, reducing visibility to only one meter. This situation lasted for about 10 minutes.

In the first round, LKG BRI Indonesia relied on a 4-3-3 formation. In that match, the Laskar Kera Sakti squad only featured 17 players. This was due to midfielder Lutfi Helmi suffering a sprained ankle during the training session on Saturday morning.

Without Lutfi, who was an option in the attacking midfielder position, the trio in the midfield was filled by M Hazwan Haidar, Aldo Julian Al Ajri, and Oksal Kristian Gani. Hazwan played the role of number six, acting as a filter for the opponent's transitions and a connector between the defense and the attack.

The attack motor came from the creativity of Oksal and Aldo's feet. The pressing and physical clashes carried out by the Indonesia Muda Bogor team had made it difficult for Laskar Kera Sakti to develop the game.

Nevertheless, through an offensive process initiated by Hazwan, LKG BRI Indonesia managed to take the lead at the end of the first half with a shot from winger Muhammad Fadlan. In the second half, the match proceeded without any goals being scored.

The LKG BRI Indonesia goal faced two shots from the opponent that could be anticipated by the goalkeeper, Fazil Darvesh. In the second half of the game, LKG BRI Indonesia played with two defensive midfielders, namely Hazwan and Milito Setiawan Sitompul.

The attacking play was better displayed by Dek Mang Pamungkas and his teammates in the third round. Playing without wingbacks and a pure center forward, LKG BRI Indonesia added two goals.

The second goal was scored through a penalty executed by M Akbar Ramadhan. The referee pointed to the penalty spot after a player from Indonesia Muda Bogor tackled the winger, M Fauzan Alhadar, who had broken through in the penalty area with an individual acceleration.

The third goal for LKG BRI Indonesia was scored by Dimas Anggara after receiving an assist from Akbar. Dimas, who originally plays as a left-back, is becoming accustomed to playing as a forward.

On the other hand, Akbar, the only central striker in the LKG BRI Indonesia squad, appeared more dangerous in the right winger position. The confidence and dribbling skills of the player from Cipta Cendikia further strengthened the main force of Laskar Kera Sakti from the flanks.

Playing on the wing allows Akbar to move more freely and find space. This is different from playing in the center, where he has to contend with two opposing center-backs. In the last two friendly matches against Dewa United U-16 and Indonesia Muda Bogor, Akbar was the only player consistently scoring goals.

"I'm not awkward playing on the wing. For the needs of the team, I'm ready to play in any position to help the team score goals," said Akbar, who scored nine goals in the 2024-2025 Kompas U-14 Powered by BRI League.

Meanwhile, Fazil faced a better challenge compared to facing the U-16 Dewa United team on Wednesday (18/6/2025) yesterday. Although he conceded one goal against Dewa, Fazil encountered more pressure and accurate shots in the second trial match.

"I am grateful to be able to make a rescue. I did not count how many times I made a catch earlier, but it was more than against the God," said Fazil, who hails from Oneway Soccer School.

Furthermore, Fazil assessed that Indonesia Muda Bogor is a team characterized by mischief. This is because they often engage in additional actions during physical duels. This condition contrasts with the match against Dewa Unioted, which had very minimal physical contact between players.

"We have to be prepared to face different characters of opponents in Sweden," he said.

LKG BRI Indonesia will commence its competitive journey at the Gothia Cup 2025 by facing the host team, AFC Eskilstuna, on Monday (14/7/2025) at 16:50 WIB, at Kviberg Field 11.

The second match against the Prep Schools District from England will take place on Tuesday (15/7/2025) at 20:30 WIB, at the Valhamra IP Field. The final game of Group 29 in the preliminary round will be held on Wednesday (16/7/2025) at 15:00 WIB, against another representative from Sweden, Ojersjo IF 1.

LKG BRI Indonesia will compete for two tickets to the knockout phase, specifically the A playoff round. The knockout phase will be held from Wednesday to Sunday (16-20/7/2025).