Regrets The Singapore Government's Policy That Requires Elkan Quarantine, Indra Sjafri: Why So Sudden? He's Had 3 PCR Tests

Indonesian national team technical recruit Indra Sjafri (Photo: PSSI)

JAKARTA - PSSI regrets the Singapore government's policy of requiring the Indonesian national team center-back Elkan Baggott to undergo a five-day quarantine from December 13 due to a plane with a COVID-19 patient en route from London to Singapore.

Quoted from Antara from the PSSI website in Jakarta, Wednesday, PSSI Technical Director Indra Sjafri said that his party was still waiting for the latest news and hoped that Elkan, a 1.94-meter center-back, could play in an important match versus Vietnam, tonight.

Indra was also surprised by the instructions from the Singapore government towards Elkan.

"Why did Elkan suddenly have to be quarantined? He has undergone PCR swab tests here three times and has carried out activities with the team and played against Laos," said the man who as coach led Indonesia to win the 2013 AFF U-19 Cup and the 2019 AFF U-22 Cup. that.

Meanwhile, PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan considered that the Singapore government's decision, which was issued on Monday afternoon, should have been quicker because Elkan had arrived in the country on December 8, 2021.

The 19-year-old footballer has also competed in the 2020 AFF Cup, namely when the Indonesian national team played Laos on Sunday, December 12 at Bishan Stadium.

"Elkan has already played against Laos. If you want to be quarantined, right, from the start before the match. After all, the person concerned has been tested negative by PCR," said Iriawan.

According to the statement from the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Singapore, Elkan Baggott is in a negative condition for COVID-19 based on the results of the swab test he followed regularly until last Tuesday.

However, the Singaporean government still requires Elkan to be quarantined to monitor his condition because it was stated that the passengers on the plane who were positive for COVID-19 have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 variant of the Omicron virus.

PSSI also asked the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore to help negotiate with the local health ministry.

If there is no change, then Elkan Baggott will certainly be absent when the national team faces Vietnam in the 2020 AFF Cup Group B match, Wednesday.

The Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-Yong couldn't help but have to rack his brains to determine who the central defender will be deployed in the first eleven in this important match.

Several names that could be assigned to this position include Alfeandra Dewangga, Rizky Ridho, Ryuji Utomo, Fachruddin Aryanto, or Victor Igbonefo.

The Indonesian national team will try out the strength of Vietnam at the Bishan Stadium, Singapore, at 19.30 western Indonesia time or 20.30 local time.

In Group B of the 2020 AFF Cup, Indonesia topped the standings with a goal difference advantage over Vietnam despite both having six points.

Malaysia is in third place with six points from three matches, then Cambodia and Laos are in fourth and fifth place with no points, respectively.