Sriwijaya FC is optimistic about defeating Persipura in the Copa Indonesia final at Jakabaring Stadium in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Sunday.
While acknowledging that Persipura should be tough to beat, having proved its quality by winning the Super League, Hendri Zainuddin, a management team staff member, said that the expected huge support from the home crowd and the pledged bonuses should fire up the players to win the match.
"They are a great team, but they are not invincible. We are playing before our own supporters," Hendri said on Friday.
The team managing board has pledged to share out 70 percent of the Rp 2 billion cash prizes to the team members. The team received Rp 750 million in bonuses for their success in reaching the semifinals.
Sriwijaya got to the final after defeating Persijap Jepara 5-1 on aggregate, while Persipura, which has just secured the Super League crown, booked its final place with a 5-3 aggregate win over Deltras Sidoarjo.
Anticipating a possible deadlock in the first two halves of the match, both teams have already drawn up plans for a penalty shoot-out, without revealing key shooters names.
"Penalty drill is a must as part of building the players mentality on the pitch. Playing a strong team on the opponents' turf, we must instill extra toughness. That's why we have been preparing penalty shooters," Persipura coach Jackson F. Tiago said.
However, he said he had urged his team, spearheaded by national star Boaz Salosa, to strive to finish the game within regular playing time.
Sriwijaya coach Rahmad Darmawan said they did a simulation shoot-out before the Persijap match.
"The psychological state of the players will decide the shoot-out. The goalkeeper must already be alert too, with him having practiced reflexes intensively," Rahmad said.
The hosts will take to the field without the service of Isnan Ali in defense after he collected his second yellow card during the second leg of the semifinal matches.
Persipura is eager for a double victory after the Super League crown and to end its reputation as permanent runner-up, after finishing second in three finals in a row.
"We want to lose the status of mere finalist and bring the Copa to Papua," Tiago said.
They were beaten by Sriwijaya in last season's Copa and defender Bio Paulin Pierre is determined to avenge the defeat.
He said he learned a lot from the loss and the team had been pinpointing the mistake and would try to avert it the second time.
"I don't care *whether* they play at home. I'm thinking about how to win in Palembang," Bio was quoted by Antara as saying.
"Sriwijaya celebrated it last season. Now it's our turn. They, too, must taste the bitterness of disappointment as we did," he said. "I really am fired up when I look at the trophy."
