Calvin Verdok Often Joking About The Indonesia Vs Japan Match At The Club

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team defender, Calvin Verdok, often joked with teammates at NEC Nijmegen about the Garuda vs Japan squad duel.

As is known, Verdok's club is also filled with several Blue Samurai players. Of the three Japanese players in NEC, one of them is Hajime Moriyasu's mainstay in the first team, namely Koki Ogawa.

Ogawa is still under the shadow of Ayase Ueda, but his contribution is very important.

During the four matches of the 2026 World Cup Qualification Third Round, he has contributed two goals even though he never started.

However, when scheduled to face the Indonesian national team, Ogawa will most likely start considering that Moriyasu did not bring Ayase Ueda who was injured.

As a result, the match will be a moment for Verdok and Ogawa to duel as enemies.

Verdonk also said that he had often joked with Ogawa before the two of them left the club to join their respective national teams.

"Yes, of course, we joked with each other. I told Ogawa that I would kick him so he would be injured when he returned to the club."

"However, it was just a joke. Also with the other Japanese players, they joked about this game," said Verdok.

The conversation was never serious. Both Verdok and Ogawa only joked without talking about tactics.

"Everyone will watch this game. However, we never talked about tactics, only about players and teams."

"So (tactics and strategies) will be a surprise for them," said Verdonk.

Besides Ogawa, NEC Nijmegen has two other Japanese players, namely Kodai Sano and Kento Shiogai.

However, both of them have not penetrated the senior Japanese team and are still playing in the national age group team.