President will attend tonight’s AFF match

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says he will attend tonight’s final match of the AFF Cup between Indonesia and Malaysia at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, dismissing critics who have said his presence could negatively affect the morale of the Indonesian team.

The President said – just a few hours before the start of the game – that he had considered the potential impact of his attendance and had concluded that it was okay for him to attend and show his support for Indonesia’s national team.

“Markus and Bambang Pamungkas talked with their friends and told me that my presence would not encumber them,” Yudhoyono said Wednesday afternoon, referring to Indonesian goalkeeper Markus Horison and striker Bambang Pamungkas.

“They said it would be good if I came supported them; it was the same thing they said before the semifinal matches,” he added.

Before facing Malaysia in two final leg matches, Indonesia defeated the Philippines in two semifinal leg matches in Jakarta. Indonesia lost to Malaysia 3-0 in the first final leg match at Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Yudhoyono has been criticized for attending a number of Indonesia’s matches in the past and has been accused of making Indonesia’s players nervous and causing them to lose.