Indonesian coach: 'Determined to beat Vietnam to decide our own fate'

Lam Thoa• December 1, 2019 10:58

Indra Sjafri believes that he and his students will definitely enter the semi-finals if they defeat Vietnam in the third match of Group B of SEA Games 30.

"Indonesia wants to decide its own fate, not depending on the results of other teams. Therefore, we must win against Vietnam," coach Indra Sjafri told Indonesian media. "A favorable result against Vietnam will help us feel secure in the race to the semi-finals. Therefore, this match is very important, even more than the two previous matches against Thailand and Singapore."

HLV Indra Sjafri trong buổi tập cuối cùng của Indonesia chiều 30/11. Ảnh: Lâm Thỏa.

Coach Indra Sjafri during Indonesia's final training session on the afternoon of November 30. Photo: Lam Thoa.

Indonesia impressed by defeating Thailand and Singapore with the same score of 2-0. In the third match today, coach Indra Sjafri and his team will face Vietnam - the team leading after winning 6-0 against Brunei and 6-1 against Laos.

"I ask the players to concentrate fully. We are preparing very carefully. The whole team understands that ahead is a match that promises to be very difficult against a strong opponent, Vietnam," the coach born in 1963 added.

Coach Sjafri once led Indonesia to face Vietnam in the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers and lost 0-1. The only goal in the match at My Dinh Stadium in March was scored by Trieu Viet Hung, a midfielder who is also present at the 30th SEA Games.

"We look to the future and do not care about the past," coach Sjafri replied when asked about the recent consecutive defeats of Indonesian football against Vietnam. "I do not pay attention to the previous head-to-head statistics between Indonesia and Vietnam. What is important is how we will perform in the upcoming match."

Lam Thoa