TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head coach of the Indonesian national men's volleyball team, Toiran Gonzales Reidel, has revealed the key to his squad's triumphant campaign at the 2026 AVC Men's Cup in India. According to him, the primary factor that propelled Indonesia to its victory over South Korea lay not within technical tactical adjustments, but rather in the mental fortitude of the players.
Indonesia clinched the prestigious title after defeating South Korea in straight sets—34-32, 25-16, and 25-23—in the final showdown held on Sunday, June 28, 2026. The resounding victory also served as sweet revenge, avenging a previous loss to the exact same opponent during the group stage. "It was not a technical factor, but more about sports psychology; all the players actually have the capability, what truly matters is their self-belief," Toiran told reporters at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Toiran stated that the players' self-confidence was continuously fortified ahead of the match through rigorous video analysis sessions. Throughout these meetings, he deliberately sought to convince his players that they possessed the raw quality necessary to beat any opponent on the court. "In every video meeting, I always tell the athletes, 'I believe in all of you; you all can do this. There is no deficiency in this team. It is only a matter of maximizing the abilities you already possess.'"
In addition to instilling confidence, Toiran constantly reminded his players to simply enjoy the game and refuse to be weighed down by high-pressure situations on the hardwood. According to the tactician, players who maintain a relaxed disposition find it significantly easier to unlock their peak performance. "Whatever the situation on the court, we must always believe that we can turn the tide; the more focused, the higher the team spirit, and the more positive we remain, the greater our chances of turning the situation around," he noted.
Consequently, during every training session, he conditioned the players to operate without carrying a heavy psychological burden. This particular coaching approach enabled the squad to rise to the occasion when navigating difficult spells, including when the intensity of the game reached a boiling point. "The most important thing is that they indeed possess the will; the first thing that must be present is that internal will," Toiran emphasized.
Aside from the psychological elements, Toiran also made a shrewd tactical gamble by fielding Rama Fazza and Putra Hidayatullah as starters in the final match. This sudden shift in player composition effectively diversified Indonesia's attacking patterns while simultaneously complicating South Korea's defensive adjustments.
Toiran took the reins of the national team for the 2026 AVC Men's Cup, stepping in for Brazilian strategist Sergio Veloso, who had originally been appointed by the Central Board of the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI). Veloso was ultimately unable to accompany the contingent due to unresolved visa complications.
The Chairperson of PBVSI, Imam Sudjarwo, lauded the championship title as the direct fruits of the grueling hard work put in by the entire squad. In his view, Indonesia remarkably overcame a severely limited preparation window to systematically dismantle several of the highest-ranked volleyball powerhouses in Asia. "This is extraordinary; we proved we could defeat the strongest teams in Asia," Imam stated proudly. "Finally, we made it to the grand final and won 3-0 against South Korea."
Read: Indonesian Volleyball Team Wins 2026 AVC Cup, Beats South Korea
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