Football: Three Indonesian Players to Join DC United’s U-23 Roster

Wimbo Satwiko

Erick Thohir promised to help develop Indonesian football when he bought US Major Leaguer Soccer’s DC United, and on Tuesday he announced that he had taken a major step toward fulfilling the pledge.

The Indonesian media mogul announced on Tuesday that the club will recruit three Indonesian youngsters for its under-23 side next season.

“Yes, I can confirm that DC United is interested in bringing three Indonesian under-18 players who will play on our under-23 team,” Erick said. “But I can’t reveal their names yet as [general manager] David Kasper is still in talk with their representatives.

“DC United has been putting more focus on developing young players and we are expecting those three players to join the training starting in January.”

Erick and business partner Jason Levien became new majority shareholders and managing partners of the Washington, DC-based club in July.

DC United is the second acquisition for the pair. They became part owners of the National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers in October 2011.

Erick, a 42-year-old businessman, also has a stake in Indonesian football club Persib Bandung and owns two basketball clubs — the Asean Basketball League’s Indonesia Warriors and the National Basketball League’s Satria Muda Britama.

In September, he took the first step toward introducing Indonesian talent to the United States by inviting Persebaya 1927 striker Andik Vermansyah, 22, for a 10-day training session with coach Ben Olsen’s side.

But Erick said Andik won’t be one of the players to be added to United’s roster. “Those three players are a midfielder, winger and defender. We will announce their names as soon as next week,” he said.