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RI to play Myanmar in AFF Suzuki Cup
Indonesia has on three previous occasions come close to winning the AFF soccer championship, and this time around Benny Dollo's team is determined not to squander its advantage as co-host
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Indonesia has on three previous occasions come close to winning the AFF soccer championship, and this time around Benny Dollo's team is determined not to squander its advantage as co-host.
"Although we have a short time in which to prepare, I believe my players can do their best," Benny said at a press conference at the Sultan Hotel in Jakarta on Thursday.
After competing in the Royal Challenge in Myanmar where it finished second to the host, the team regrouped for a week-long final phase of preparations, on the outskirts of Jakarta, ahead of the Suzuki Cup.
Defender Ismet Sofyan, a part of the team since 2000, said the Sawangan workout made the players more confident and solid.
"We worked on everything... mental and physical. I feel we are more solid now. We nurture ties of togetherness," he said.
One of the team's more experienced members, Ismet said he regretted a missed opportunity in 2000 when Indonesia lost to host Thailand in the final, a precedent that would be repeated in the next two AFF finals -- against Thailand in 2002, and against Singapore in 2004.
On Friday, Indonesia will take on Myanmar in a Group A match that follows the opening match between Cambodia and reigning champion Singapore.
Group B, in Phuket, comprises Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and co-host Thailand. The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals, which will be played in a home-and-away format.
Indonesia holds the upper hand in head-to-head meetings with Myanmar in the championship, which was first played as the Tiger Cup in 1996. However, the Royal Challenge tour, in which Myanmar beat Indonesia twice en route to victory, has given Benny plenty to look forward to in Friday's encounter.
"The players are in good condition," he said.
Despite the winning mood Myanmar carry to Jakarta, team coach Marcos Falopa was modest about their prospects.
"Let's forget it, turn over a new leaf. Now is a different event. The atmosphere is different, the weather is different," said the Brazilian.
"Of course we were happy we won (the Royal Challenge) but we must be careful here.
"Indonesia has power, good technique, good passing, good crossing and good (ball) possession. We know tomorrow will be very hard."
In Group B, Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic said he would not take Cambodia lightly. Cambodia enters the main round of the championship after finishing in the top two with Laos during qualification in October, considered by Serbian Avramovic a testament to Cambodia's competitive quality.
Singapore and Thailand are the only teams to have won the championship -- three times each. They last met in the 2007 final, when Singapore came out on top with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
