Having defeated Vietnam twice, the European coach still 'criticizes' Indonesian football.

Following the win against Vietnam, Héctor Souto surprisingly captured attention with frank statements regarding Indonesian futsal's situation, which stirred public opinion across the island nation.

After the 3-2 victory over Vietnam's futsal team in the Southeast Asian futsal semifinals, coach Hector Souto once again became the focus of Indonesian media attention. This marked the second time in 2026 that the Spanish coach defeated the Vietnamese team with the same score, following the win in the Asian futsal quarterfinals.

However, according to Bola newspaper, instead of merely discussing tactics or his players' performance, coach Souto recently made a surprising move by candidly addressing the infrastructure situation of futsal in Indonesia. These statements quickly sparked debate among the public, as they touched upon a core issue for long-term development.

Specifically, the Spanish strategist expressed concerns about the quality of pitches and current training conditions. According to him, many futsal courts in Indonesia are deteriorating, with damaged surfaces and non-standard dimensions, directly affecting the training process for young players.

"Where do our children play? They grow up on a playground that does not encourage them to dream. The court surface is damaged, the area is too small, and the quality is substandard. For recreational purposes, it might still be usable. However, to train professional players, we need better conditions," Coach Hector Souto stated.

Despite offering candid observations, Souto emphasized that this was not criticism aimed at any organization or individual. Instead, he considered it a necessary wake-up call to promote positive change for Indonesian futsal in the future.

"This is not criticism, but reflection. Investing in sports facilities equates to investing in health, education, values, and opportunities for thousands of youth, offering them a better path for the future," he added.

Coach Hector Souto also expressed hope that when his tenure concludes, Indonesian futsal will have made clear progress in its development foundation. "I hope that when my mission in Indonesia ends, futsal will be in a better state than when I arrived. And no child should pursue big dreams on a court unsuitable for their talent."

In reality, under Souto's guidance, Indonesian futsal has achieved many significant successes, including the SEA Games 33 gold medal and the 2026 Asian runner-up position. The team also experienced a streak of 12 unbeaten matches, with 11 wins, before stopping against Thailand in the Asian final.