Witan Sulaeman

Witan Sulaeman

Witan playing for Indonesia in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Witan Sulaeman [1]
Date of birth	(2001-10-08) 8 October 2001 (age 23) [1]
Place of birth	Palu, Indonesia
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) [2]
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Persija Jakarta
Number	78
Youth career
2013–2015	SSB Galara
2016–2019	SKO Ragunan
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019	PSIM Yogyakarta	7	(0)
2020–2021	Radnik Surdulica	5	(0)
2021–2022	Lechia Gdańsk	0	(0)
2022	→ Senica (loan)	8	(2)
2022	Trenčín	10	(1)
2023–	Persija Jakarta	37	(5)
2024	→ Bhayangkara (loan)	10	(1)
International career‡
2017–2020	Indonesia U19	26	(8)
2019–2024	Indonesia U23	39	(10)
2021–	Indonesia	48	(9)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Indonesia AFF U-19 Youth Championship 2017 Myanmar 2018 Indonesia Team Southeast Asian Games 2019 Philippines Team 2021 Vietnam Team 2023 Cambodia Team AFF U-22 Youth Championship Winner 2019 Cambodia Team AFF Championship Runner-up 2020 Singapore Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024

Witan Sulaeman (born 8 October 2001) is an Indonesian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga 1 club Persija Jakarta and the Indonesia national team.

A youth product of Ragunan Sports School, Witan started his professional career with PSIM Yogyakarta. He joined Serbian club Radnik Surdulica in July 2020, becoming the first Indonesian to play in a Serbian league. ^[3] In 2021 he moved to Polish side Lechia Gdansk before being loaned to Slovakian side Senica in 2022. He moved to Trenčín in the same year. The following year, Witan returned to Indonesia by joining Persija Jakarta.

Witan has represented Indonesia since U19 level. He has represented his side at two Southeast Asian Games and led his side to the final of the 2020 AFF Championship. Witan took part in Indonesia's qualification for the 2023 Asian Cup by scoring two goals.

Club career

PSIM Yogyakarta

On 17 August 2019, Witan signed his first professional contract at the age of 17 with Liga 2 side PSIM Yogyakarta. ^[4] He made his first-team debut for PSIM Yogyakarta when he was part of the starting lineup of a 2019 Liga 2 match against Persiba Balikpapan on 22 August 2019, in which PSIM won. ^[5]

Radnik Surdulica

At the age of 18, Witan joined Serbian SuperLiga club Radnik Surdulica in February 2020 on a three-and-a-half-year deal. ^[6] However, the season was soon suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for a period of 2+1⁄2 months, during which he returned to Indonesia. ^[7] He finally made his professional debut on 14 June 2020, coming on for Bogdan Stamenković during a 4–2 SuperLiga defeat to Radnički Niš. ^{[8] [9]}

Lechia Gdańsk

On 1 September 2021, Witan joined Polish club Lechia Gdańsk on a two-year contract. Witan joined shortly after his international teammate Egy Maulana departured to Senica in Slovakia. ^[10] Three days later, Witan made his Lechia Gdańsk debut in a friendly match against Jeziorak Iława as a substitute for Kacper Sezonienko in the 73rd minute. ^[11]

He made his league debut for Lechia Gdańsk. However, he did not strengthen the main team, but for the reserve team, Lechia Gdańsk II. when he was part of the starting lineup of a IV liga match against MKS Wladyslawowo on 11 September, in which Lechia won. ^[12]

On 26 July 2022, it is announced that Witan and Lechia Gdańsk both agreed to mutually terminate his contract. ^[13]

FK Senica (loan)

On 21 January 2022, Witan joined Slovak Super Liga club Senica on loan until the end of the season. ^[14] On 12 February 2022, Witan made his league debut playing full 90-minutes against league giants Slovan Bratislava, as his team suffered 0-5 defeat. ^[15] Witan made his first goal for his club at Slovak Cup winning game against SV Sasona Arena.^{[ citation needed ]} In the quarter final of Slovak Cup, against FK Pohronie, he gave one assist and one goal for the winning match. ^[16]

Trenčín

On 9 August 2022, Slovak club AS Trenčín announced that they had signed Witan on a two-year contract. ^[17] On 13 August 2022, Witan made his debut, coming on as a 73rd minute substitute for Lucas Demitra in a goal-less league draw against Ružomberok. ^[18] On 24 August 2022, Witan scored his first and second goal for Trenčín during a record-setting 14–0 victory against Slovan Hlohovec in the Slovak Cup. ^[19]

Persija Jakarta

On 31 January 2023, Witan joined Liga 1 side Persija on a three-and-a-half-year contract. ^[20] Witan made his league debut on 12 February in a 2–0 home win against Arema at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Bekasi. ^[21] On 5 April, he scored his first league goal in a 0–1 away win against Persebaya Surabaya. ^[22] He also continued his good form in April with give assists a opening goal by Michael Krmenčík, whilst also scored his second league goal for the club in a 5–0 win against PSS Sleman. ^[23] With this victory, Persija is assured to finish in runner-up in the final standings of the 2022–23 Liga 1. ^[24] He contributed in 10 league appearances with 2 goals and 1 assist for the rest of 2022–23 season. ^[25]

Bhayangkara (loan)

On 14 November 2023, Witan joined Bhayangkara FC on a loan until the end of the season. ^[26]

International career

At the age of 16, Witan made his international debut with Indonesia U19 in the 2017 Toulon Tournament on 31 May 2017 against Brazil U20 with a score of 1–0 defeat. Later that year he scored a brace in an 8–0 win over Brunei at the 2017 AFF U-18 Youth Championship. ^[27] He also scored in the third-place match against Myanmar.

At the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship held in Indonesia, ^[28] Witan scored two goals in a group stage win over Chinese Taipei before scoring the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over the United Arab Emirates to lead his team to the quarterfinals for the first time in 40 years. ^[29]

Witan was part of the Indonesia under-23 team that won silver in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.

He received a call to join the senior Indonesia national football team in May 2021. He earned his first senior cap in a 25 May 2021 friendly match in Dubai against Afghanistan. ^{[30] [31]} On 11 October 2021, he made first international goal against Chinese Taipei in a 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification – play-off round leg 2, in which Indonesia won 3–0. ^[32]

On 12 December 2021, Witan scored a goal in a 2020 AFF Championship game against Laos. ^[33] On 22 December 2021, Witan scored again against Singapore in the first leg of semi-final.

On 14 June 2022, Witan scored a brace against Nepal in a 7–0 win in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification. ^[34]

Witan was again called up for the Indonesia senior team for the 2022 AFF Championship. He scored a goal against Cambodia at the group stage on 23 December 2022. ^[35]

Personal life

In the midst of busy following the training camp with the Indonesia national team, On 29 May 2022, at the age of 20, Witan married his girlfriend, Rismahani. Witan officially married Rismahani in a wedding ceremony held in Palu, Central Sulawesi. ^[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 November 2024 ^[37]

Club	Season	League			Cup [lower-alpha 1]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
PSIM Yogyakarta	2019	Liga 2	7	0	—		—		—		7	0
Radnik Surdulica	2019–20	Serbian SuperLiga	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2020–21	Serbian SuperLiga	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	Total		5	0	0	0	—		—		5	0
Lechia Gdańsk	2021–22	Ekstraklasa	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
Lechia Gdańsk II	2021–22 [38]	IV liga	4	0	0	0	—		—		4	0
Senica (loan)	2021–22	Fortuna liga	8	2	4	2	—		—		12	4
Trenčín	2022–23	Fortuna liga	10	1	4	3	—		3 [lower-alpha 2]	1	17	5
Persija Jakarta	2022–23	Liga 1	10	2	0	0	—		0	0	10	2
	2023–24	Liga 1	18	3	0	0	—		0	0	18	3
	2024–25	Liga 1	9	0	0	0	—		0	0	9	0
Bhayangkara (loan)	2023–24	Liga 1	10	1	0	0	—		0	0	10	1
Career total			81	9	8	5	0	0	3	1	92	15

1. Includes Slovak Cup
2. Appearances in Tipsport liga

International

As of match played 15 October 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Indonesia	2021	15	4
	2022	9	3
	2023	11	2
	2024	13	0
Total		48	9

As of match played 10 September 2024

Scores and results list Indonesia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Witan goal.

List of international goals scored by Witan Sulaeman

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	11 October 2021	Buriram Stadium, Buriram, Thailand	6	Chinese Taipei	3–0	3–0	2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2	25 November 2021	Emirhan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey	8	Myanmar	3–0	4–1	Friendly
3	12 December 2021	Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore	10	Laos	3–1	5–1	2020 AFF Championship
4	22 December 2021	National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore	13	Singapore	1–0	1–1	2020 AFF Championship
5	14 June 2022	Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait	19	Nepal	2–0	7–0	2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification
6			6–0
7	23 December 2022	Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia	22	Cambodia	2–1	2–1	2022 AFF Championship
8	28 March 2023	Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Bekasi, Indonesia	29	Burundi	1–0	2–2	Friendly
9	17 October 2023	Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei	33	Brunei	4–0	6–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Indonesia U19

• AFF U-19 Youth Championship third place: 2017, 2018

Indonesia U23

• AFF U-22 Youth Championship: 2019 ^[39]
• Southeast Asian Games Silver medal: 2019 ^[40]
• Southeast Asian Games Bronze medal: 2021 ^[41]
• Southeast Asian Games Gold medal: 2023 ^[42]

Indonesia

• AFF Championship runner-up: 2020 ^[43]

Individual

• 2020 AFF Championship: Team of the Tournament
• Southeast Asian Games Top scorer: 2021

References

1. "AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 | Final Registrations of Players | Member Association: Indonesia" (PDF). ASEAN Football Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
2. "Witan Sulaeman: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
3. "Mendadak Indonesia ala Klub Serbia yang Merekrut Witan Sulaeman".
4. "Alasan Witan Sulaiman Pilih Gabung Klub Liga 2". bolalob. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
5. "Jalani Debut Profesional bersama PSIM, Witan Sulaeman Sempat Nervous". suara.com (in Indonesian). 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
6. Raihan, Faishal (12 February 2020). "Transfer Witan Sulaiman ke Klub Serbia Jadi Sorotan Media Eropa" (in Indonesian). Kompas . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
7. Putra, Gerry (26 March 2020). "Pandemi Virus Corona, Witan Sulaiman Tinggalkan Serbia" (in Indonesian). bolalob.com. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
8. Sadheli, Mochamad (14 June 2020). "Witan Sulaiman Debut Tim Inti, Main 35 Menit pada Laga Resmi" (in Indonesian). Kompas . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
9. Widyantara, Gunawan (13 June 2020). "Wonderkid Indonesia Witan Sulaeman Tandai Debut Radnik Surdulica" (in Indonesian). Goal . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
10. "Witan Sulaeman Gabung Lechia Gdansk, Dikontrak 2 Tahun". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 1 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
11. "Witan Sulaeman Debut di Lechia Gdansk, Main 21 Menit dan Nyaris Cetak Gol". kompas.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
12. "Witan Sulaeman Debut, Lechia Gdańsk II Cetak Setengah Lusin Gol Saat Tim Utama Ulangi Penyakit Lama". bolasport.com (in Indonesian). 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
13. Markowski, Maciej (26 July 2022). "Od tego sezonu bez Kobrynia i Sulaemana". OFICJALNA STRONA LECHII GDAŃSK (in Polish). Retrieved 26 July 2022.
14. "Resmi: Witan Sulaeman Gabung FK Senica" . Retrieved 21 January 2022.
15. "Hasil Slovan Bratislava vs FK Senica di Liga Slovakia 2021-2022". Okezone (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 March 2022.
16. "Witan Cetak Gol dan Assist, FK Senica ke Semifinal Piala Slovakia". CNNIndonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
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18. "RUŽOMBEROK VS. TRENČÍN 0 - 0". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
19. "HLO 0-14 TRE". Flashscore. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
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22. Raissatria, Cikal Bintang (5 April 2023). "Hasil Persebaya Surabaya Vs Persija Jakarta: Gol Debut Witan Sulaeman Hadirkan Angka Penuh". Sport Stars (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 April 2023.
23. Lazuardi, Bagaskara (15 April 2023). "Pesta Gol Lawan PSS Sleman, Persija Jakarta Finis sebagai Runner Up BRI Liga 1 2022/2023". www.bola.net (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
24. "Persija Pesta Gol dan Finis Runner-up BRI Liga 1, Thomas Doll Full Senyum". www.bola.com. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
25. "Momen Gol Witan Sulaeman di Laga Terakhir Persija Jakarta, Sinyal Siap Gacor di SEA Games 2023". www.libero.id. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
26. Sigit Pratama, Ilham (14 November 2023). "COO Bhayangkara FC Sumardji Sebut Perekrutan Putu Gede dan Witan Sulaeman Sudah Sesuai Prosedur". www.bola.okezone.com. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
27. "Ketua Umum PSSI Bangga Timnas U-19 ke Semifinal" (in Indonesian). Soccersindonews. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
28. "Resmi! Daftar 23 Pemain Timnas Indonesia U-19 di Piala Asia U-19 2018". bolalob.com (in Indonesian). 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
29. "Witan Sulaiman, Pemain Kampung yang Kini Menjadi Aset Sepak Bola Indonesia" (in Indonesian). boombastis.com. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
30. "Afghanistan Ungkap Kelemahan Indonesia di Menit Krusial". www.kompas.id (in Indonesian). 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
31. "Resmi, Ini 28 Pemain Timnas Indonesia Untuk Kualifikasi Piala Dunia 2022". bola.tempo.com (in Indonesian). 13 May 2021.
32. "Indonesia Kalahkan Taiwan 3-0, Witan Sulaeman Sumbang Gol". jabar.tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
33. "Laos vs. Indonesia - Football Match Summary - ESPN". ESPN. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
34. "Pesta 7 Gol Timnas Indonesia Vs Nepal dan Daftar Kemenangan Terbesar Garuda" (in Indonesian). Kompas. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
35. "Hasil Piala AFF 2022 Indonesia vs Kamboja: Skor 2-1" (in Indonesian). Serafin Unus Pasi. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
36. "Sah, Witan Sulaeman Resmi Menikah dengan Rismahani". www.sportstars.id (in Indonesian). 29 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
37. "Indonesia - W. Sulaeman - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
38. "2021/22 IV Liga, Gr. pomorska". lechia.net.
39. Yan (26 February 2019). "Indonesia beat Thailand 2-1 to win AFF U-22 Championship". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
40. "Witan Sulaeman Samai The Footprint of Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto During First Debut in Europe". indosport.com. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
41. "Timnas Indonesia U-23 Dapat Perunggu di SEA Games 2021, PSSI pun Bangga". bola.okezone.com. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
42. Media, Kompas Cyber (16 May 2023). "Hasil Indonesia Vs Thailand: Menang 5-2, Garuda Sabet Emas SEA Games 2023!". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 May 2023.
43. "Piala AFF 2020 Indonesia vs Thailand: Statistik Pertandingan Tunjukkan Kelemahan Garuda | liputan6.com". www.liputan6.com. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

External links

• Witan Sulaeman at National-Football-Teams.com
• Witan Sulaeman at Soccerway
• Witan Sulaeman on Instagram