JAKARTA (10 May 2014) – It is not just another match for Alfred Riedl when his Indonesian squad takes on the ASEAN All-Star tomorrow evening at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan.
The Indonesian national team will play the ASEAN All-Star team in a fund raising game for the victims of typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines last year.
“The game is a good opportunity for me to look at some new faces in the team, so for me it is not just another match,” said Riedl. “Just like the ASEAN All-Star team, there has been some difficulty in getting all the players together.
“So there will be about five or six new players in the team as I cannot take players from Arema or Persipura. We will miss around 12 players at least but we will have enough quality in the current squad.”
Riedl added that Indonesia are already starting to prepare for the AFF Suzuki Cup where the game against the ASEAN All-Star is part of the big picture for the year end football extravaganza.
He said that in June, the team will be lining up at least two international matches to give the players more playing time together.
“The idea for the game against the ASEAN All-Star is charity but that does not mean that we cannot at least aim for something,” he added. “I want the team to play nice, good football.
“They must also show some growth from the last game they played.”
In the meantime, ASEAN All-Star coach Datuk K. Rajagobal will be stressing on playing attractive football without the pressure of having to deliver an outright win.
“I just want the players to focus on playing attractive football which is very important in a game of this nature.
“Indonesia will not be an easy side to play against so we will have to be smart and not try to do too much and commit ourselves to unnecessary pressure.”
Ticket price has been fixed at between IDR 25,000 to IDR 500,000 with at least 50,000 tickets being printed.
