Indonesian Basketball National Team Loses To Jordan, Menpora Zainudin Amali Immediately Gives Motivation: Forget The Last Match, Look To The Next Game

Menpora Zainudin Amali gave encouragement to the Indonesian basketball team players. (Doc. Kemenpora website)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian basketball team must recognize Jordan's superiority in the second match of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup Group A, Thursday, July 14. Andakara Prastawa and his friends gave up with a score of 65-74.

Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali, who witnessed the match, immediately gave encouragement. The man from Gorontalo met the Indonesian basketball team players at the hotel where they were staying after the game.

"I saw that you played well, but the opponents were also good. The next match, you must keep your spirits up. You have played well from the start," said the Minister of Youth and Sports on the ministry's official website.

Menpora asked the Indonesian basketball team players to forget the defeat to Jordan. He invites the players to look at the next match against Australia.

Menpora said, the opportunity for Indonesia to qualify for the next round remains open. The key is to win over Australia.

"We still have a chance. Whoever the opponent is facing, must keep the spirit, must be able to, fight until the last minute," said Zainudin Amali.

"You have to be optimistic. The government fully supports the Indonesian Basketball National Team. Forget the last match, look to the next game," he added.

The 2022 FIBA Asian Cup is the only door for the Indonesian basketball national team to get tickets to the 2023 World Cup which will be held in Jakarta.

However, to qualify for the event, Indonesia must reach the last eight of the 16 teams playing in the Asian Cup. Previously, Indonesia's opportunity to qualify through the qualification route was closed.

That's because Red and White have always lost in six matches in Group C of the Asian Zone. The qualification took place from November last year to July this year.