Semifinals Of The 2024 President's Cup: Borneo FC Prepares New Defenders Against Persija

JAKARTA - Borneo FC has lost its responsibilities to reach the semifinals of the 2024 Presidential Cup. Against Persija Jakarta in the semifinals of the pre-season tournament at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, Borneo FC is ready to field the best squad, including new defender Gabriel Furtado.

Gabriel only joined when Borneo FC qualified for the semifinals. Pieter Huistra's coach will also field the Brazilian player who last played at Al Mesaimeer, the Qatar League 2 Division club. He will definitely strengthen the defense of the team nicknamed Pesut Etam.

"We have a new center-back arrival. He is indeed prepared in this semifinal match. In addition, all the players are in good condition and no one is absent due to injury or a ban on playing," Huistra said in Solo, Monday, July 29, 2024.

"We have been in Solo for three days to make preparations. All players are fit and can be fielded. So we are ready for the semifinal match against Persija," he said.

The Dutch coach stated that he would take full advantage of this pre-season tournament before competing in the League 1 competition.

Moreover, the team is not only the arrival of new foreign players but also local players. Huistra hopes that they can be combined through this tournament.

"This pre-season tournament finalizes our preparations before appearing in the competition. This is a good warm-up than we are trying to face a team from League 2," he said again.

Borneo FC is the winner of Group A so he meets Persija who is the runner-up of group B. With the status of host, Diego Michiels et al hopes to get direct support from their supporters. Huistra also hopes to bring the best finishing team.

"We have reached the semifinals. And, we hope to finish by being the best," said Huistra.

Meanwhile, wing-back Muhammad Fajar Fathurrahman expressed his readiness to face Persija. He hopes that the team can consistently maintain performance like when competing in the group stage.

"As a player, we are very ready and enthusiastic for tomorrow's match," said Fajar.

"We have done recovery since the last match of the group stage. So, we are in the best condition of the match," he said.