Persib Coach Emphasizes The Seriousness Of The 2024 President's Cup Even Though It's Only A Pre-season Tournament

JAKARTA - Persib Bandung coach, Bojan Hodak, ensured that his team would seriously undergo the 2024 Presidential Cup tournament even though the event was a pre-season event.

This was conveyed by the tactician after delivering his team to win 2-0 in the opening match of Group A of the 2024 Presidential Cup at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung Regency, Friday, July 19, 2024, afternoon WIB.

In that match, Persib did appear dominant since the first half. The Hodak concoction squad has even succeeded in creating the opening goal when the game had only been running for 15 minutes through Ciro Alves.

Maung Bandung's second goal was obtained a few minutes before halftime. However, this time the goal was created from the suicide of PSM Makassar player, Nermin Haljeta.

After the match, Bojan Hodak appreciated the performance of his foster children. Although he realized that the team's performance was not yet perfect, Hodak considered the result to be a good start to look at the next match.

"It was a good match, even better because we won. It may not be perfect, but it's the first game," Bojan Hodak said in a press conference after the match.

"This game will help us prepare ourselves. There will also be some foreign players who can complete the squad."

"Of course there are still things that need to be improved, but there are also things I like from the players. This will be our evaluation in the future," he said again.

Bojan Hodak emphasized his team's commitment to the 2024 President's Cup after winning over PSM in the inaugural match.

Despite his status as a pre-season tournament, the Croatian coach assessed that this tournament was important because it became a trial ground for next season's league preparations.

"I told you earlier when we had a press conference before the match. This is a trial event for League 1 preparation and preparation for the Asian II Champions League (second level of the AFC tournament)," said Hodak.

"If we can win the game, it will be good, but we will go step by step (in the President's Cup)," said the Persib Bandung coach.

The 2024 President's Cup is the sixth edition. This pre-season tournament was first held in 2015.

The eight teams participating this year are divided into two groups and will compete for prizes worth IDR 5 billion.