JAKARTA - Persebaya Surabaya failed to release two of their players, Rizky Ridho and Marselino Ferdinand to attend the training camp ahead of the AFF-U23 Cup. In fact, before this they expressed full support for the program undertaken by the Indonesian national team.
The refusal was submitted by Persebaya coach, Aji Santoso ahead of the match against Persipura Jayapura on Sunday, February 6. Not without reason, Aji failed to release the two names because he was aware that Bajul Ijo's players would be running low if the two names were closer to the national team.
"If later (Rizky) Ridho and Marsel (Marselino Ferdinand), so (fulfilling the call for the Indonesia U-23 national team) we only have 13 players, it will not be possible to play (against Persipura)," said Aji Santoso after the match against PSIS, Wednesday , February 2nd.
Previously, it was known that in the PSIS Semarang match, Persebaya had lost 12 players due to exposure to COVID-19. If Rizky and Marselino participate in defending the national team in the AFF-U23 Cup, then Bajul Ijo only has 13 players left which makes them unable to continue the 2021/2022 Liga 1 competition.
The suspension of the match refers to the competition rules which state that a match can be postponed if a team only has a minimum of 14 players. Meanwhile, if you look at the number of remaining Persebaya players, they are below the minimum limit.
Further about this situation, Aji Santoso will communicate with management. This was done in order to prepare a scheme if the 12 players who were tested positive had not changed their status ahead of the match against Persipura Jayapura.
"Later I will communicate with management, if their national players have to be forced to leave, yes maybe that's okay, but the match must be postponed, because our players are not enough now," he explained.
However, Aji respects the decision taken by Shin Tae-yong who called his three players to a training camp with the national team ahead of the AFF U-23 Cup.
"I still hope they can survive (at Persebaya), but if coach Shin Tae-yong wants them, the compensation is that Persebaya cannot play in the next match," he said.
Aji Santoso's statement that it was difficult to let go of these two players was clearly in contrast to what the Persebaya manager, Candra Wahyudi previously said. Although he had also refused, last Wednesday Candra fully supported the three players who appeared to defend the U-23 national team.
"Persebaya supports the national team program to achieve the best," said Candra earlier.
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