DON’T DOUBT MY COMMITMENT: BOAZ

Boaz, who joined the squad under Alberto Bica only a few days before the team’s departure to Vientiane, is struggling with a left hamstring injury he picked up in his last match for his club side Persipura Jayapura.

Indonesia will open their SEA Games campaign against Singapore tomorrow at the Main Stadium with the hope that of winning their first SEA Games gold medal since the 1991 Games in Manila.

“Even though I could not join the training camp earlier, there should not be a question to my commitment to the team. As I’ve said it time and time again, I’m ready to play in the SEA Games,” said the 23-year-old Boaz, who was the top scorer of the Indonesian Super League last season alongside Persib Bandung’s Cristian Gonzales with 28 goals.

“I have to share my time between my Persipura club and also the senior Indonesia national team, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to play with the Under-23 team.”

But the Indonesian side did not have the best of preparation in the run-up to the SEA Games when they lost all five of their friendlies – scoring just twice and conceding 13 goals.

They lost 5-0 to Iran’s senior team and then 2-1 to the Iran U23 side side in Tehran.

This was followed by two defeats against Malaysia (1-0 in Jakarta and then 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur) and then once against Singapore (2-0).

“We played Singapore in a friendly, so I know a bit about the team. But I think what matters is our own game. We’ve been training hard and now is the time to show what we capable of,” Bica said.

GROUPINGS

Group A: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Cambodia

Group B: Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia

RESULTS AND FIXTURES

2 Dec (Main Stadium): MALAYSIA 11 Timor Leste 0/ THAILAND 1 VIETNAM 1

4 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Thailand vs Cambodia 1500hrs)/ Vietnam vs Timor Leste (1745hrs)

5 Dec (Main Stadium): Singapore vs Indonesia (1500hrs)/ Laos vs Myanmar (1745hrs)

6 Dec (Main Stadium): Vietnam vs Malaysia (1500hrs)/ Timor Leste vs Cambodia (1745hrs)

7 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Myanmar vs Singapore (1500hrs)/ Indonesia vs Laos (1745hrs)

8 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Timor Leste vs Thailand (1500hrs)/ Cambodia vs Malaysia (1745hrs)

9 Dec: Opening Ceremony

10 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Myanmar vs Indonesia (1500hrs)/ Laos vs Singapore (1745hrs)

11 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Cambodia vs Vietnam (1500hrs)/ Malaysia vs Thailand (1500hrs)

14 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Semi-finals

17 Dec: Third/ Fourth Placing (1500hrs at Chao Anu Vong Stadium)/ FINAL (1700hrs at Main Stadium)