Had things transpired differently, Marselino Ferdinan would probably have spent Saturday in the midst of preparations for Indonesia's maiden appearance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
It was ultimately not to be as the Indonesians were stripped of their hosting rights -- along with their place in the competition -- at the end of last month over what was said to be a failure to honour their commitments to the tournament, which largely stemmed from domestic unrest over the potential presence of Israeli competitors in the world's most-populous Muslim-majority country which has long supported the Palestine cause.
Putting aside any political conversations, the heartbreak of the young Indonesian players was clear for all to see as their dream of gracing the massive stage ended before it even really began.
But if Marselino and a handful of his peers were still hurting from that heartbreak, they chose the best possible way to respond -- by helping the under-22 side get off to a winning start at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games men's football tournament with a 3-0 triumph over Philippines on Saturday.
Although Indonesia entered the Group A opener as favourites, they initially struggled to break down a plucky and stubborn opposition.
Right until the stroke of halftime, when Marselino found space just inside the box and proceeded to clinically sweep a first-time volley into the bottom corner.
The Indonesians then spurned a golden opportunity to double their lead just after the hour mark when captain Rizky Ridho saw his penalty expertly saved by Quincy Kammeraad but they never really looked in danger of being hit back a Philippines sucker punch, and would go on to secure the three points through injury-time strikes from substitutes Irfan Jauhari and Fajar Fathur Rahman.
The three-goal winning margin did add gloss to what was a steady but unspectacular display from Indonesia.
With the luck of the draw pitting several other main contenders together in Group B, the Indonesians will be expected to comfortably reach the semifinals but they will have to get better once they take on the likes of Vietnam, Thailand or Malaysia after the group stage.
Still, there is plenty for them to be positive about.
For one, as far as opening matches go, the win was ultimately the most important bit to achieve. With three more group-stage games to go, they still have plenty of time to find their groove and raise their game if -- and when -- they advance to the last four.
Yet perhaps the biggest positive is the very fact they can call upon a prodigious talent like Marselino, who has been making waves ever since he burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old and has already earned a move to Europe after signing for Belgian second-tier outfit Deinze.
Especially in the first half, when Indonesia were lacking in invention, Marselino was at the heart of every promising forward foray they had even when more senior teammates such as Witan Sulaeman and Pratama Arhan struggled to get going.
Still only 18, it would be easy to assume that Marselino would be playing a bit-part role in a competition four years above his age group.
Nonetheless, Marselino is far from a bit-part talent.
He has already made an impact at senior level at last year's AFF Championship. At the risk of piling unnecessary pressure on his young shoulders, a player of his ilk should be dominating at SEA Games level.
Unfortunately for Philippines, whose players and rookie coach Rob Gier actually gave a creditable account of themselves, Marselino did just that against them on Saturday.
Since he -- quite regrettably -- no longer has the chance to shine at the U-20 World Cup, he might as well do just that on the regional stage over the next fortnight. And with a vengeance.