Football Tribe SEA Editor
Highly rated Indonesian youngster Witan Sulaeman continued his Serbian Superliga journey with FK Radnik Surdulica with a starting debut on Friday. Playing against hosts Vozdovac at the SC Stadion in Belgrade, Witan was named by Radnik head coach Simo Krunic in his starting lineup, operating in his usual right wing position. The match against Vozdovac was Radnik’s final match of the season and with relegation abolished this season, Radnik had nothing to lose coming into this match.
Having made a cameo in Radnik’s previous match, a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Radnicki Nis, Witan marked his starting debut with a rather anonymous performance. The 18-year old looked nervous and restrained, but he did had a shot going off target in the 30th minute. Other than that, Witan committed a number of errors that was taken advantage by the Vozdovac players, allowing the hosts to go on the counter. Simo subbed Witan off during half-time, replacing him with the more experienced Milan Makaric, however Witan could at least give himself a pat on the back for being able to make his way to the match’s starting lineup.
The match itself ended in a 1-1 draw, with Lazar Zlicic scoring for the hosts at the stroke of half-time, before Nemanja Pejcinovic drew the score level with an own goal. Vozdovac finished the match with 10 men after Ivan Milosavljevic was sent off in the 82nd minute.
Palu-born Witan was contracted on a long-term 3.5 year contract with Radnik, with the first clause in his contract allowing Radnik to allow Witan to appear in next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is going to be held in Indonesia.