PETALING JAYA: In an age where social media strongly influences opinions on footballers, it is hard for fans not to follow the herd.
And bearing the brunt of such scrutiny of late is Indonesian Ramadhan Sananta who plays for Brunei.
The 23-year-old’s dry spell in front of goal has made him an easy target for netizens.
But thankfully, Indonesia’s English coach John Herdman has jumped to Ramadhan’s defence, urging fans to assess the player’s overall performance rather than focusing solely on goals.
“I’m truly disappointed with the criticism Ramadhan has received. He is someone who always fights on the field for Indonesia every time he plays,” said Herdman.
“He has a great spirit and loves his country. Unfortunately, some social media comments have gone too far. We should behave better.”
Herdman emphasised that Ramadhan’s contributions extend beyond scoring, highlighting his movement and work rate on the pitch.
“This young player creates space and leads the pressing from the front. If we look at Olivier Giroud, he did not score in the 2018 World Cup for France, yet his performances were not criticised to that extent because he still worked for the team.
“Sananta is a player like that. He prioritises the team; his movements create space for Ole Romeny, Ragnar Oratmangoen and even Beckham Putra. I want fans to stay calm and appreciate the hard work of this young player for his country.
“He is a very proud Indonesian. It is disappointing to read some of the things said about him. We need to do better as a nation.”
In the Super League this season, Ramadhan has recorded just four goals and two assists in 24 appearances for Brunei.
At the international level, he has featured in two friendlies — a 4-0 win over the St Kitts and Nevis and a 1-0 defeat to Bulgaria — but failed to find the net in both matches.
Since making his debut for Indonesia, Ramadhan has earned 18 caps and scored six goals.
Herdman’s public backing could be the boost Ramadhan needs to rediscover his scoring touch when Brunei take on Negri Sembilan at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on April 12.
