Ahead Of The Indonesian Women's National Team To Face Australia, Coach Rudy: We Are Very Ready

Women's national team coach Rudy Eka Priyambada (Ulfa Gusti Utami/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian women's national team will play their inaugural match in the preliminary round of Group B of the 2022 Asian Cup on Friday, January 21 at 17.30 WIB. In that match, Garuda Pertiwi will face a tough opponent, Australia at the Mumbai Football Arena Stadium, India.

Australia is an opponent to be reckoned with. Because, they are supported by several players who mostly compete in Europe, especially England.

Meanwhile, the Garuda Pertiwi players actually lacked flight hours because of the COVID-19 pandemic that hit forced most competitions to stop.

Even so, Rudy Eka Priyambada as the coach of the Indonesian women's national team emphasized that his team would not be afraid even if they faced a relatively strong opponent. They expressed full readiness to face Australia.

"The opposing players are great. However, we are very ready to face them", said Rudy in a virtual press conference ahead of the match, Wednesday, January 19, 2022.

Furthermore, Rudy also said that in the inaugural match, his team will take full advantage of the opportunity to perform. Because this is the first time for the Indonesian women's national team to appear again in the Asian Cup after 33 years of waiting.

"We have to prove ourselves on the field if we are worthy. The World Cup is a dream for the Indonesian public, as well as players. So, we have to work hard to make that dream come true", he said.

Before playing the match against Australia, Garuda Pertiwi first underwent a training camp in Jakarta for approximately one month.

After facing Australia in the first match, the Indonesian women's national team will play Thailand on Monday, January 24 followed by the Philippines on Thursday, January 27.