JAKARTA (7 April 2013) – The Indonesia national team will take on Benin in a friendly slated for 27 April 2013 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Following the successful reconciliation of Indonesian football last month which resulted in 70,000 spectators turning up to watch the Indonesia-Saudi Arabia clash of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, the FA of Indonesia (PSSI) have lined up several friendlies over the course of the next few months.
Beginning with the game against Benin.
“The truth is that the chairman of the Indonesia national team management (Isran Noor) wants the Indonesia national team to be formed early,” said Rudolf Paulus Yesayas, the marketing director of the Indonesia national team management.
But Benin will be anything but easy considering their current world ranking of 86th as against Indonesia’s 166th. Rudolf added that to bring Benin to Jakarta, it has required funding of some IDR 25 milliar (USD 2.5 million).
“More than 70% of their players are based in Europe which speaks of their quality. We have already received the green light from the FA Of Benin, the only thing now is some administrative issues which should be ironed out soon,” added Rudfolf.
“After Benin, we are also planning for matches against South, Korea, Holland, Paraguay, Chile, Equador, Mexico, Brasil, Portugal and also Argentina.”
