About The 2021 AFC Cup, Jacksen F. Tiago: The Team Has Been Disbanded, I Am Not Competent To Talk About Persipura

JAKARTA - Persipura Jayapura coach Jacksen F. Tiago is reluctant to respond to the matter of his squad's preparation for the 2021 AFC Cup, whose group stage draw was held on Wednesday, January 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"The team has been disbanded and I am not competent to talk about Persipura. The only competent person to convey the matter of Persipura is currently the management only," said Jacksen to Antara.

Persipura has disbanded its team since early January 2021 due to sponsorship problems, the result of the absence of a league during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The management of the team, which has won the Indonesian League four times, said that they did not have enough sources of funds for team operations.

In the 2021 AFC Cup, Persipura is scheduled to compete in the qualifying phase on May 19, 2021.

They will face the winner of the match Visakha FC (Cambodia) versus Lalenok United FC (Timor Leste) which takes place April 28, 2021.

If they succeed in conquering their opponent, Persipura has the right to fill one slot in Group H.

Group H of the 2021 AFC Cup will be filled by Kedah Darul Aman (Malaysia), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), and Saigon FC (Vietnam).

Apart from Persipura, Indonesia is also represented by the 2019 Indonesian League 1 champions Bali United in the 2021 AFC Cup.

Bali United itself occupies Group G along with five-time Vietnamese League champion Hanoi FC, 2020 Cambodian League champion Boueng Ket and the winning team of the qualifying round (playoff) I.

The first qualifying round brings together representatives of Myanmar Hantharwady United FC against the winner of the match Kasuka FC (Brunei Darussalam) versus Lao Toyota (Laos).