The Shiro Corporation Coach Rahmad Darmawan wants tournaments like the Indonesian Cup to be rolled out again so that young players in Indonesia can get more playing time to hone their skills, as quoted from ANTARA .
"In several countries, including myself, I have coached in Malaysia as well, and there I also won three trophies. There was the Malaysian League Cup, the FA Cup, and then the Malaysia Cup; at that time there were three," Rahmad told ANTARA at the ANTARA Heritage Center in Central Jakarta on Tuesday while recounting his experience coaching Terengganu FC II from November 2025 to November 2027.
"It is regulated by different rules so as to provide opportunities for young players to play," he added.
In the 2024/2025 season, young players get playing time in the Elite Pro Academy (EPA) U-16, U-18, and U-20 competitions.
They also get the opportunity to play in the Indonesian Liga 1 because there is a regulation requiring at least one U-22 player to be included in the starting lineup of 11 players for a minimum of 45 minutes or one full half.
According to the coach, who is familiarly called RD, some of these competitions are already good, but it would be even more helpful if tournaments like the Indonesian Cup were held again.
RD himself holds the title of the most successful coach in the Indonesian Cup due to winning three titles, which he achieved consecutively with Sriwijaya FC in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
The last edition of the Indonesian Cup was held in the 2018/2019 season, won by PSM. This edition is the first one after the tournament was halted for more than five years.
"Because, in my opinion, if the Indonesian Cup is reintroduced, it will certainly be of great help," he said.
To fill that gap, the President's Cup was held, and it is entering its seventh edition this year.
As a preseason tournament that is traditionally used as preparation for clubs to undergo the upcoming season's competition, this tournament is well-received by RD.
"This is a moment that I also believe can be utilized as an opportunity to appreciate everyone involved in the long competition carried out by the clubs in Indonesia," said RD.
"And for player material, perhaps young players in the future, I fully agree if in the coming years the Indonesian Cup is revived. Or the President's Cup, but no longer as a tournament but one of the cups that can be placed among ongoing competitions," he concluded.
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