The jersey of the late Alfin Lestaluhu accompanies Indonesian National Team U-16 in the celebration of the champion AFF U-16 Cup 2022.
Indonesia won the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup after beating Vietnam 1-0 in the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup final which was held at the Maguwoharjo Stadium, Sleman, Friday (12/8) night.
Indonesia’s only goal was created at the end of the first half through Muhammad Kafiatur Rizky’s beautiful goal.
After confirming the winner, an official of the Indonesian U-16 national team immediately lifted the jersey of the late Alfin Lestaluhu, the former U-15 national team, and pointed it at the camera.
Even the coach of the Indonesian U-16 national team, Bima Sakti, also lifted the jersey of the late Alfin Lestaluhu in celebration of the champion on the podium. In addition, Bima and the team captain also posed with Alfin’s jersey while attending the press conference after the match.
The Indonesian U-16 national team under the care of Bima Sakti always carries a jersey with the back number 2 and the name A. Lestaluhu.
The jerseys are always carried by the U-16 national team players when taking photos together, both before the game, after the match, or when celebrating the championship title.
[Gambas:Video CNN]
Bima Sakti said that Alfin’s jersey is a symbol to give high fighting spirit to its players.
“This jersey is a symbol of players who have a high fighting spirit. Players who work incredibly hard both in training and in matches. This is a motivation for the current players,” said Bima as quoted by Antara.
Alfin Farhan Lestaluhu is a right-back for the Indonesian U-15 national team in 2019 who was also coached by Bima Sakti.
The player from Tulehu in Maluku helped bring Indonesia to third place in the 2019 AFF U-15 Cup and qualify for the 2020 U-17 Asian Cup by becoming second in Group G in the qualifying phase.
Alfin died in Jakarta on October 31, 2019 due to ‘encephalitis’ which attacks the brain. He was treated in Ambon before being flown to Jakarta for further treatment.
Bima wants the current Indonesian U-16 national team players to have an attitude like Alfin who never gives up and always dares to take risks for the sake of the team.
The 46-year-old coach recalled when Alfin became the first player to ask to be the executor of a penalty shootout against Vietnam in the fight for the third place of the 2019 edition of the AFF U-15 Cup in Chonburi, Thailand.
“He said to me, ‘Coach I want to take the first penalty kick’. I immediately thought this kid was amazing. Unfortunately Alfin’s shot didn’t score. He came to me again, ‘Coach, I’m sorry’. I said, ‘No, you’re great’. In the end we won the penalty shootout,” said Bima.
(rhr/har)
