The Indonesian national soccer team arrived in Kuwait on Saturday (June 4, 2022) to participate in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification. (ANTARA/HO-Indonesian Football Association/uyu)
The support of the Indonesian people in Kuwait will motivate the team.Jakarta (ANTARA) – The national soccer team landed in Kuwait at 2:05 a.m. Arabian Standard Time (AST, or UTC+3) on Saturday to participate in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification from June 8–15, 2022.
The Indonesian contingent comprising 23 players and 20 officials was greeted enthusiastically at the airport and the hotel by dozens of Indonesian supporters residing in Kuwait.
In a statement received here on Saturday, Indonesian Ambassador to Kuwait, Lena Maryana, said that her party welcomed all team members.
"The Indonesian embassy along with the supporter group in Kuwait are ready to support the struggle of the Indonesian national team here," she remarked.
She informed that the embassy has requested 500 tickets from the Kuwait Football Association for Indonesian supporters so that they can directly support the team at the stadium.
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She also spoke with the technical director of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Indra Sjafri, to discuss the preparations of the national team, including the summer weather challenge since currently, the average temperature in Kuwait can reach up to 45 degrees Celsius during the day.
The peak of summer usually occurs in July–August in Kuwait, with average temperatures surpassing 50 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Sjafri lauded the support of the Indonesian embassy and people in the Arabian country who welcomed the team although the players and officials arrived at an early hour.
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"The support of the Indonesian people in Kuwait will motivate the team," he remarked.
The Indonesian national team has been placed in the same group as Kuwait, Jordan, and Nepal for the qualifiers.
In the first match, Indonesia will face host Kuwait on June 8 at 7:15 p.m. AST or 11:15 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB, which is UTC+7).
Furthermore, Indonesia will take on Jordan on June 12 (10:15 p.m. AST) or June 13 (2:15 a.m. WIB), and then Nepal on June 15 (10:15 p.m. AST) or June 16 (at 02:15 a.m. WIB).
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Translator: Zuhdiar Laeis, Uyu LimanEditor: Fardah Assegaf Copyright © ANTARA 2022