For most young footballers, the path to a FIFA World Cup feels distant and almost unreachable. For Eizar Jacob Tanjung, it began long before he wore Indonesia’s number 12 jersey. It began at home, in a family where football was more than a hobby. It was a legacy.
A Father’s Influence That Shaped a Career
Before Eizar stepped onto the pitch for Sydney FC, his father was carving out his own story in Australia’s Indonesian football community. A former Minang Saiyo Tigers player who represented the club proudly for several years, he became the first coach Eizar ever had. He was the one who tied his boots, corrected his touch, and taught him discipline. More importantly, he showed his son what football could become when approached with commitment and heart.
Eizar often says he would not be here without him. The work ethic, humility, and hunger to improve were built at home and sharpened from an early age.
While other children were still choosing sports, Eizar was already training with intent. Early morning sessions, community tournaments, structured drills, and entering formal pathways from a young age shaped him into a player who understood the game not as recreation, but as a craft.
Rising Through the System
That early foundation opened doors.
Eizar progressed through structured youth football, adjusting to stronger opponents, quicker tempo, and senior expectations. His talent kept pace with each step.
The breakthrough arrived when he earned a place in Sydney FC’s development pathway. Playing for Sydney FC II in the NPL, he trained under top coaches, faced strong youth sides from across Australia, and matured into one of the most promising Australian–Indonesian prospects of his generation.
From local parks to the professional doorstep, his rise was built on years of consistency and a family who always pushed him toward excellence.
A Community Star Who Outgrew the Local Stage
In 2024, INDOLEAGUE supporters saw something unforgettable when Eizar put on the Minang Saiyo Tigers FC jersey. His technique, composure, and understanding of the game were immediately clear. He lifted the team’s tempo, inspired younger players, and became central in their Grand Final victory.
He later won Young Player of the Year.
To many, INDOLEAGUE felt lucky to have him, not the other way around.
Now Wearing the Garuda Crest
At the FIFA U17 World Cup, Eizar represented Indonesia with pride. He played with discipline and heart, including in the tough 0 to 4 loss to Brazil in the second Group H match. Pressure never fazed him. He stayed committed and composed against one of football’s strongest youth programs.
And then came the final match of the group stage.
A Historic Victory That Was Not Enough
Indonesia recorded a 2 to 1 victory over Honduras in their final Group H match on Monday, 10 November 2025. It was a historic moment, marking Indonesia’s first ever win at a FIFA U17 World Cup.
Indonesia dominated the early stages with confidence. Zahaby Gholy’s free kick and Mierza Firjatullah’s close-range effort forced Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares into big saves.
The breakthrough arrived in the 52nd minute when Evandra Florasta calmly converted a penalty. Honduras responded almost immediately with a penalty of their own through Luis Suazo in the 54th minute. The match tightened, but Indonesia found another gear.
Fadly Alberto unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box in the 72nd minute, restoring the lead and sending Indonesian fans into celebration.
Despite waves of attacks in search of more goals, the score remained 2 to 1 at the final whistle.
However, the victory was not enough to advance to the round of 32.
Indonesia finished with three points, equal to several other third-placed teams, but were eliminated due to a goal difference of minus five. Mexico, with a goal difference of minus two, secured the final spot.
Although the journey ended at the group stage, Indonesia left with their heads high. The win over Honduras will be remembered as a milestone in the nation’s youth football history.
Player Line-up vs Honduras
Indonesia U17:
Mike Rajasa
Muhammad Al Gazani
Eizar Tanjung
Putu Panji
Mathew Baker
Evandra Florasta
Nazriel Alvaro
Rafi Rasyiq
Fadly Alberto
Mierza Firjatullah
Coach: Nova Arianto
Honduras U17:
Noel Valladares
Enmanuel Martin
Osmel Medina
Denzel Arzu
Obed Amador
Mike Arana
Yochua Palacios
Darell Oliva
Luis Suazo
David Flores
Marcos Reyes
Coach: Jose Canales
From Family Dream to Global Stage
Every time Eizar walked out in Qatar, he carried two homes with him. Indonesia, whose crest he represented with pride. And Australia, where he trained, developed, and built the tools that brought him to the world stage.
He also carried something deeply personal: his father’s dream. The legacy of a Minang Saiyo Tigers player whose influence shaped a boy into a footballer worthy of the world’s biggest youth tournament.
From Strathfield Park, from Sky Park, and from countless hours of unseen work, Eizar Jacob Tanjung’s journey is now a story shared by two nations and one proud family.
A Name Linked to Legacy
Last season, Eizar was honoured with the Young Player of the Season trophy, known as the Bambang Pamungkas Award. The name behind the award carries immense weight in Indonesian football. Bambang Pamungkas, often called BP or Bepe, is one of Indonesia’s most iconic strikers, a legend who inspired an entire generation with his leadership, intelligence, and loyalty to the national team. He was a symbol of discipline and longevity, a player who lifted Indonesian football through two decades of unwavering commitment.
For INDOLEAGUE supporters, giving Eizar an award named after such a figure was more than recognition. It was a statement of belief. Many in the community pray that Eizar will continue a legacy in the same spirit as Bambang Pamungkas, but on an even larger stage. They hope he will carry Indonesia forward through the next twenty years of his career, not only shining in domestic leagues but elevating Indonesian football on global platforms where the Garuda crest has long dreamed of soaring.
Eizar’s creativity, composure, and maturity drew comparisons to legends early. The award simply made that connection official. And now, as he steps from local competitions to World Cup arenas, the community watches with pride, believing that the next era of Indonesian football may have already found its heartbeat in a young defender from Strathfield Park who learned the game with his father’s guidance and now stands ready for a much bigger world.
(indoleague)