Defending champions Indonesia begin their men's football SEA Games gold medal defense tonight against the Philippines. The match is scheduled for 18h on monday, 8/12, Hanoi time, at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai.

According to Talaohu Musafri, a former national team forward, Indra Sjafri's squad possesses the quality to overcome both Philippines and Myanmar without major obstacles. Musafri, 43 years old, who played three matches for Indonesia between 2009 and 2014, emphasized the team's thorough preparation, strong squad, and accumulated experience from previous tournaments. "Given the situation in group C, Indonesia has a clear chance to advance", he added.

Indonesian players celebrate a goal in an U22 friendly match drawing with Mali at Pakansari Stadium, Bogor, Indonesia on 18/11/2025. *Photo: Bola*

Musafri also cautioned about psychological factors, particularly as Indonesia enters the tournament as defending champions. "Pressure is certainly present, but it's important for the players to set aside the burden of defending the title", Musafri commented. "If they play relaxed and focus on each match, I believe Indonesia will continue to win the gold medal".

In their first group C match on 5/12, Philippines defeated Myanmar 2-0, with goals from Alex Monis and an own goal by Lat Wai Bhone. More than half of the Philippines' SEA Games 33 squad were born and raised abroad, including Monis. Their roster also includes midfielder Sandro Reyes, playing in Germany's 4th division; forward Dylan Demuynck, in Belgium's 2nd division; and defender Santiago Rublico, in Spain's 3rd division.

Indonesia's squad features five foreign-born players: Rafael Struick, Dion Markx, Mauro Zijlstra, Jens Raven, and Ivar Jenner. These players are expected to form the core for Indonesia's gold medal defense, alongside local talents such as Muhammad Ferarri and Hokky Caraka.

As part of their preparation for the SEA Games, Indonesia played two matches against U23 Mali, losing 0-3 and drawing 2-2 respectively. The Mali national team is ranked 54th in FIFA, so the draw with U23 Mali is considered a success for Sjafri's team.

Men's football at SEA Games 33 runs from 3/12 to 18/12. The tournament features 9 teams divided into three groups of three. The three group winners and the best second-placed team will advance to the semifinals.

Hoang An (according to Bola)