H

ost country Indonesia has been drawn into the same group with the defending champion Malaysia team, landing in Group A of the soccer tournament for the upcoming 26th South East Asia Games along with Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia, which is seen by both teams as a deadly group.

“Indonesia and Malaysia are indeed in a deadly group … we even call it the ‘hell’ group,” Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) national team official Benhard Limbong said at a press conference after the drawing session, which was aired live by the Games’ official broadcaster, RCTI, in West Jakarta on Wednesday.

“We will do what we can do, with the best training we have,” he added.

Thailand has become the most feared soccer squad, as it has won 11 gold medals, the most in the SEA Games.

Malaysia is considered as the most prepared team for the Games after playing several friendly matches against Arsenal and Liverpool.

“We had three months of training in Slovakia for the Games. Three of our national team members were offered to join local clubs. Six of our players for this SEA Games were the ones who played and won in the 2009 Games,” said Soccer Association of Malaysia general-secretary Dato Azziuddin Ahmad.

Ahmad said that Group A had powerful teams compared to Group B, which had Vietnam, Laos, Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste, Myanmar and the Philippines.

“Thailand is the strongest team. Indonesia comes in second, with Singapore in third place,” he added.

Ahmad admitted that his team had the burden of defending its previous victory. “We have been preparing and will surely do our best to get another win.”

Thailand Ambassador to Indonesia Thanatip Upatising said that the Games were more than a sporting exhibition. “It is an event that can foster a sense of togetherness among ASEAN countries.

“We have prepared our team for the Games … we will leave the rest up to destiny,” Upatising said.

The 2009 SEA Games’ second-place team, Vietnam, said many squads considered themselves lucky to be in Group B. “But in soccer, nobody knows what will happen … For us, Laos is a strong team,” Vietnam Soccer Federation general-secretary Tran Quoc Tuan said.

Laos was certain it could make it to the final round at the Games.

Separately, Indonesian coach Rachmad Darmawan said he was a bit surprised with the drawing results.

“But, I think every team has the same opportunity in the Games. We just need to make the most of the chances we have in every round,” he said after a training session at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta.

The soccer matches will be in half-competition mode. In the semifinals, the winner of Group A will meet the runner-up of Group B, and the winner of Group B will meet the runner-up of Group A.

The winners of that round will face each other for the gold, while the losers will play for third place in the finals round.

Vietnam versus the Philippines and Laos versus Myanmar are openers for the qualification round on Nov. 3, while Indonesia faces Cambodia on Nov. 9.