LKG BRI Indonesia Begins Training Center to Win Gothia Cup 2025

BOGOR, KOMPAS — The LKG BRI Indonesia team, consisting of 18 selected players from the Liga Kompas U-14 2024-2025, is surrounded by three European teams in the qualifying round of the Gothia Cup 2025. In order to perform well in Gothenburg, Sweden, the "Laskar Kera Sakti" has begun intensive preparations through a centralized training camp at the Bromelia Sport Center located in the Puncak area, Bogor Regency, West Java, from June 16 to 23.

Based on the results of the group stage draw last weekend, LKG BRI Indonesia has been placed in Group 29 of the Boys 15 category at the Gothia Cup 2025. Two local teams, Ojerso IF 1 and AFC Eskilstuna, along with a team from England, Prep Schools District, will be the challengers for LKG BRI Indonesia in the quest for a ticket to the knockout stage.

LKG BRI Indonesia is the only representative of Indonesia in the Boys 15 category. In the 50th edition of the Gothia Cup, Indonesia is represented by five teams in five different categories.

Academy Persib Cimahi will compete in Boys 13, Papua Football Academy in Boys 14, while SDN Srengseng 01 will play in Girls 13, and Special Olympics Indonesia will participate to contest the championship title in the Gothia Special Olympics Trophy (GSOT) category.

Specifically for the LKG BRI Indonesia squad, they will compete with 248 teams from 31 different countries in an effort to bring home the championship trophy for Boys 15. The Boys 15 category is the tournament group with the most participants in the Gothia Cup 2015.

With tough competition ahead, LKG BRI Indonesia has commenced an intensive training camp for one week in the Puncak area. The refinement of tactics, techniques, and the psychological factors of the players have become the focus during this week-long training camp.

In addition, the cool climate at the peak, with temperatures ranging from 21 to 26 degrees Celsius, provides an opportunity for players to adapt to similar weather conditions in Gothenburg. Although it is already summer, Gothenburg's temperatures range from 18 to 24 degrees Celsius during the Gothia Cup tournament, which takes place from July 13 to 19, 2025.

Eddy, the assistant coach of LKG BRI Indonesia, stated that the inaugural training session during the training camp held on Monday (16/6/2025) afternoon aimed to refine the team's attacking and defensive patterns. In the nearly two-hour training session, players were divided into two groups consisting of attacking and defensive players.

Players in the positions of forwards, attacking midfielders, and wingers try to flow short passes to open up the defense formed by the defenders. For the defenders, they are tasked with actively pressing.

The situation is also done the other way around. Attacking players are asked to do high pressing when the defenders try to build an attack. Meanwhile, the defenders who are in control of the ball are required to be able to flow the ball to the middle of the field.

In addition to preparing their own strength, Eddy revealed that he and the players have also begun to gather information about potential opponents, at least in the group stage. According to Eddy, potential opponents from Europe generally possess physical stature advantages that must be taken into account.

"I and the children have also been mutually seeking information to study our opponents. We are confident in our ability to compete in order to advance to the next round," said Eddy, who accompanies Head Coach LKG BRI Indonesia Tb Wahyudin Syah.

In the first training session, several players experienced difficulties adapting to the low air temperature and humidity. Several times, the majority of the players felt fatigue more quickly compared to the training sessions they had been able to conduct thus far.

"It was difficult to breathe at the beginning of the training. I am trying to adapt to playing in a cold environment. This training camp is important for me and my teammates to adjust to playing in low temperatures," said winger Muhammad Akbar Ramadhan.

In addition to honing collective and individual skills on the field, the players also undergo sessions with the Sports Psychology Association (IPO). The training with IPO is intended to strengthen the mental capabilities of the players, enabling them to reach their potential at the Gothia Cup 2025.

The first session with IPO, Monday afternoon, was conducted by IPO Secretary General Taru Guritna. The LKG BRI Indonesia players underwent the imaginary and mirroring methods. The imaginary method was conducted by asking players to draw their idols and role models in their respective positions.

Next, players are asked to assess three aspects including the physical, technical, and personality of their idol footballer who is a role model for them. Meanwhile, the mirroring method is an opportunity for players to assess and compare their current abilities with their idol players.

"Youth players are very imaginative, so we implement methods for them to motivate themselves with things they enjoy. The two methods we are applying are intended for the players to set targets during the training camp, so that at the end of the training camp we can assess their commitment to develop," said Taru.