Losing To Afghanistan, The Indonesian Football Association Chairman Asks The National Team To Focus On The Match Against Myanmar

PSSI chairman Mochamad Iriawan when releasing the U-18 national team to Turkey (Photo: Ulfa Gusti/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team lost 0-1 in the friendly match against Afghanistan on Tuesday night. The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) General Chairman (Ketum) Mochamad Iriawan asked the Garuda squad to focus on the next match against Myanmar.

The message was conveyed by Iriawan after receiving news of the defeat of the national team in Turkey. According to him, the players must immediately move on in order to prepare themselves better in the second trial.

"The players must quickly forget this defeat. Keep the spirit of undergoing the training camp in Turkey until you get the best results in the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup later," said Iriawan in a written statement received by VOI, Wednesday.

The Indonesian national team is currently in Turkey to undergo a training camp as well as conduct a test match. Last Tuesday the Garuda squad faced Afghanistan as their first opponent.

However, in the meeting at the Antalya Stadium, Turkey, Evan Dimas et al were forced to submit 0-1.

Despite losing, the chairman of PSSI still appreciates the team's struggle on the field. According to him, these results can be used as evaluation material so that they can perform even better in the next test match.

"The players have struggled, earlier we also had a number of opportunities to score goals, this defeat must be taken a lesson from," said Iriawan.

"The spirit of the players should not be lost, there is still another trial against Myanmar and must win," he added.

The Indonesian national team will play the second test match against Myanmar next week. The series of trials were carried out in preparation for the 2020 AFF Cup in Singapore in December.