The ASEAN All-Stars squad set to face Manchester United on May 28 in the highly anticipated Maybank Challenge Cup in Kuala Lumpur has been finalized, with the late addition of two promising Indonesian talents and four Australian players.
Following the withdrawals of Asnawi Mangkualam and Muhammad Ferarri due to national team and club obligations, Indonesia faced the possibility of not having any representation in the All-Stars lineup—an ironic twist, considering the country boasts one of the region’s largest football fanbases.
Fortunately, the All-Stars moved quickly to address this, securing the services of Persib Bandung defender Kakang Rudianto and Persebaya Surabaya winger Malik Risaldi.
Kakang, a standout in Persib’s back-to-back Liga 1 championship-winning teams, is considered one of Indonesia’s most promising young defenders. A graduate of the Persib academy, the 22-year-old earned 18 caps for the national U-20 side and narrowly missed out on the 2024/25 Liga 1 Young Player of the Season award. Despite his youth, he has already established himself as a key figure in Bojan Hodak’s first team.
Malik, while not a regular in the national team, has proven his capabilities at the club level. After playing a crucial role in Madura United’s run to a second-place finish in the 2023/24 season, he continued his fine form with Persebaya in the current campaign, helping them remain competitive in the Liga 1 top half.
In addition to the Indonesian duo, head coach Kim Sang-sik has injected Australian flair into his All-Stars squad. Though not geographically part of Southeast Asia, Australia is a member of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), making its players eligible for selection.
Four Australians have been named: Adrian Segecic, a key contributor to Sydney FC’s deep run in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Two; youngsters Kealy Adamson of Macarthur FC and Yaya Dukuly of Adelaide United; and seasoned defender Harrison Delbridge, who currently plays for Incheon United in South Korea.
With the squad now complete, Kim Sang-sik’s ASEAN All-Stars look ready to take on Premier League giants Manchester United in what promises to be a thrilling and symbolic clash between global superstars and Southeast Asia’s finest. Beyond the football, the match represents a celebration of regional talent and unity, as players from across ASEAN—and beyond—come together to showcase the vibrancy and potential of Southeast Asian football on one of the sport’s biggest stages.