Ole Romeny Praises Kevin Diks' Leadership After Indonesia's Win Over Singapore

Indonesia's national team began its FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Singapore at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta. The two winning goals were scored by Ragnar Oratmangoen and Ole Romeny from the penalty spot. The result places Indonesia second in Group A of the top division with three points, behind Malaysia on goal difference at the top of the standings.

The win is important capital for John Herdman's squad ahead of a crucial match against Malaysia on Monday, 28 September 2028, at the same venue. Only the group winner advances to the final, so every point and goal difference will be decisive. The pressure to perform consistently at home is growing.

A notable moment came in the 73rd minute when the referee awarded Indonesia a penalty after reviewing VAR. Kevin Diks, entrusted with the captaincy in Jay Idzes' absence, initially held the ball. Although known as a reliable penalty taker for club and country, the right-back chose to hand the responsibility to Ole Romeny. The Fortuna Sittard forward calmly converted the spot kick, doubling Indonesia's lead.

"Kevin and Jay are leaders who always put the team first. When he gave the penalty to me, it showed his character. I really appreciate that," Romeny said after the match.

Romeny added that Diks' decision reflected a strong collective culture within the squad. According to him, having many quality penalty takers is an advantage, and such an unselfish attitude strengthens team harmony. He also said all the players are happy to have figures like Diks and Idzes who put the common interest first.

Coach John Herdman expressed pride in the players' performance. He felt his team played to plan and managed to keep their fourth or fifth clean sheet at home. Herdman also praised Romeny's sharpness in scoring again, signalling the emergence of a consistent striker in Indonesia's front line.

"I'm proud of the players. Ole scored again, and we are starting to have a consistent goalscorer. The defence was solid too, another clean sheet," Herdman said.

From a tactical standpoint, the win showed a balance between attack and defence. Herdman appears to have built a foundation of a winning mentality, especially in making the most of set-piece situations and maintaining defensive discipline. However, the real test will come against Malaysia, known for their fast attacks.

For Indonesian football fans, the result raises optimism that the national team can compete at the regional level. Full support from the supporters at GBK is an additional factor that can push the players to perform with more confidence. If they can overcome Malaysia, the path to the final will open up wide.

The question is, can Indonesia maintain momentum and handle the pressure of a rival at the same time? Monday's match will prove whether Herdman's squad is truly ready to go far in this tournament.