Vice President Asks The Indonesian National Team To Focus On Winning Tickets For The Paris Olympics

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin gave a press statement at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday (30/4/2024). BETWEEN/HO-Secretariat Vice President

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin asked the Indonesian U-23 National Team (Timnas) to focus on securing tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning 3rd place in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup against Iraq in the next match.

The vice president requested that the Garuda Muda squad not be discouraged and could forget the defeat after failing to advance to the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup finals after being defeated by Uzbekistan with a score of 2-0, in the match which took place at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar, Monday (29/4).

"So we just forget the defeat to Uzbekistan. We are back [focus], so that the spirit grows and must win against Iraq, so that later we can participate in the Olympics, even as the 3rd winner," said the Vice President when giving a press statement at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday, April 30.

In his assessment, the Vice President saw that the Indonesian national team had played quite well against Uzbekistan and became an achievement that should be appreciated because it had entered the semifinal stage.

On the other hand, if they succeed in winning 3, continued the Vice President, the Indonesian national team will again make history because they participated in the Olympics, after their last appearance at the 1956 Olympics or 68 years ago.

The vice president said he was optimistic that the Indonesian national team would be able to beat Iraq, considering that the two teams had the same quality.

"This practice was defeated by Japan. Japan was defeated by South Korea. So actually the game is balanced. We beat South Korea, actually the same," said the Vice President.

The vice president also asked the players to be vigilant and anticipate the weaknesses of opponents that must be properly considered by the Indonesian national team.

It is also related to the captain, Rizky Ridho, who was hit by a red card. However, the Vice President assessed that the reserve players also have the same quality as the main players, so it has no effect on the strength of the national team.

The U-23 Indonesian national team will face the Iraqi national team in the race for third place in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup which will take place at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, on Thursday (2/5) at 22.30 WIB.