Indonesian women's U16 national team coach Timo Scheunemann said the squad will begin training camp (TC) on July 24 at the Supersoccer Arena, Kudus Regency, Central Java, in preparation for the 2026 Srikandi Merdeka Cup, August 14-23, 2026.
He explained that the training camp will include players who have been on the coaching team's watchlist for the 2025/2026 Hydroplus Soccer League All-Stars and those from outside the competition.
"Essentially, we'll start training camp for all the players together, then split them into two teams of 23 players each," said the man often called Coach Timo while monitoring the U15 match in the 2025/2026 HSL All-Stars at Supersoccer Arena on Saturday.
He further explained that the number of players called up to the training camp would exceed the team's final requirements. A final selection process would then be carried out to form two squads, totaling 46 players, who would appear in the tournament.
This step was taken so that the coaching team had more options before determining the 23 players in each of the two Indonesian squads.
Timo stated that besides himself, coach Takumi Taniguchi was also planned to handle one of the teams that would appear in the Srikandi Merdeka Cup.
During the training camp, he continued, the coaching team will hold a number of internal trials.
In addition to matches between players within one team, the two selected squads will also face each other as part of the evaluation process before appearing later.
If necessary, he said, the two teams will also face the men's team to improve the quality of their play and gauge the players' readiness for the tournament.
Timo revealed that the coaching team has a number of names on their radar based on monitoring during the HSL implementation from the four regions, as well as the HSL All-Stars in Kudus.
The 2026 Srikandi Merdeka Cup brings together the eight best U16 football teams from seven countries, namely Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Jordan, and Indonesia, at the Supersoccer Arena, Kudus Regency, Central Java, on August 14-23.
As host, Indonesia has the right to send two teams to compete in the international women's football tournament.
