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RI's soccer team in Group E with Thailand, Maldives, Timor Leste
Indonesia can look forward to some tough matches during the soccer competition at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, which begin in September
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ndonesia can look forward to some tough matches during the soccer competition at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, which begin in September.
The soccer draw, which was held on Thursday at the Harbor Park Hotel, Incheon, saw Indonesia placed into Group E together with Thailand, the Maldives and Timor Leste.
'Every opponent is tough. We are already familiar with the other teams because we have played them several times,' Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman Djohar Arifin told The Jakarta Post in a phone interview.
Djohar said he hoped Indonesia's young players would not suffer any lack of confidence.
'I hope the Indonesian team will advance to the knockout phase, at the very least,' he said.
Host country South Korea was drawn in Group A with Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Laos, while defending champion Japan was placed in group D with Kuwait, Iraq and Nepal. Four-time winner Iran will kick off its campaign in group H with Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan.
The Asian Games, which takes place every fours years, is slated to run from Sept. 19 through Oct. 4. However, the soccer competition is scheduled to start on Sept. 14, four days ahead of the opening ceremony. The age limit for the teams is 23, with three players over that age also allowed.
Indonesia's soccer team is part of the country's 188-strong delegation to the Games, where it is due to participate in 23 out of the total 36 events.
With only a slim chance of advancing beyond the first knockout stage, Djohar said the Asian Games was just a stepping stone in the team's long-term program of developing a new generation of players for the senior team.
'This tournament will allow them to gain experience as they face opponents at the regional level,' Djohar said.
Wei Jizhong, honorary life vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), said as reported by Reuters that the Games were a chance for the region to impress the world.
'With nearly 10,000 athletes and 5,000 officials, the Asian Games is nearly on the same scale as the Olympic Games,' he said.
Soccer draw
Group A: South Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Laos
Group B: Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Afghanistan
Group C: Oman, Palestine, Singapore, Tajikistan
Group D: Japan, Kuwait, Iraq, Nepal
Group E: Thailand, Maldives, Timor Leste, Indonesia
Group F: North Korea, China, Pakistan
Group G: UAE, India, Jordan
Group H: Iran, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan
