Indonesia's soccer team headed to Laos on Monday, desperate for gold at the Southeast Asian Games, which it last won almost two decades ago
ndonesia's soccer team headed to Laos on Monday, desperate for gold at the Southeast Asian Games, which it last won almost two decades ago.
However, team officials said they would be content just making the final like they did in 1997, when they were beaten by Thailand.
"God willing, our team can reach the final," head of the national soccer team board with the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) Rahim Sukasah said prior to the 22-man squad's departure.
The 25th SEA Games will officially kick off on Dec. 9 but the soccer competition starts four days earlier.
Indonesia's first soccer gold medal at the biennial multi-event sporting showcase came in 1987 in Jakarta, at the expense of Malaysia in the final. It grabbed its second in 1991 in the Philippines, when Indonesia won 4-3 on penalties over Thailand after a 0-0 draw in regular time.
The two teams met again in Jakarta in 1997 with Thailand triumphing 4-2 also on penalty shootout after regular time ended with a 1-1 draw.
Indonesia's medal hopes partly rest on Boaz Solossa's fitness. He is still recovering from a heel injury.
"Hopefully, Boaz will be in a good shape in Laos," added Rahim.
Persipura's Boaz did not play during the team's 1-0 win over Persib Bandung in their Indonesian Super League match on the weekend.
Indonesia will play Singapore in the Group B opening match at the National Stadium in Vientiane on Dec. 5. Host Laos will be the next team to tackle on Dec. 7, before taking on Myanmar on Dec. 10.
Rahim said a win against Singapore would boost the team's chances of advancing to the semifinals, an achievement that would make up for the failure of two years ago when they crashed out in the group matches. Thailand, which is looking for its ninth gold, is in Group A with Cambodia, Malaysia, East Timor, and Vietnam.
Indonesian soccer squad
Goalkeepers: Frenky Irawan, Muhammad Ridwan
Defenders: Rahmat Latif, Rendy, Elvis Nelson, Djayusman Triasdi, Yudi Khoerudin, Ruben Karel, Stevie Bonsapia
Midfielders: Mahadirga Lasut, Nasution Karubaba, Egi Melgiansyah, Sultan Samma, Muhammad Fauzan Djamal, Lucky Wahyu, Johan Juansyah, Tony Sucipto
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