JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team won 14-0 over Guam in the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification. However, all players and teams chose not to celebrate.
The national team striker, Arkhan Kaka, revealed that this was done as a form of empathy for the incident at the Kanjuruhan Stadium which claimed hundreds of lives. Arkhan, who scored four goals in Monday, October 3, also promised not to celebrate the victory excessively.
For celebrations, coach Bima and other coaches have made an appointment because they are grieving, so we are celebrating naturally. It (original celebration) is done to honor the victim (Trage at the Kanjuruhan Stadium)," said Arkhan after the match in a statement received by the editor.
Despite choosing to celebrate properly and not showing the euphoria of a big win over Guam, Arkhan representing his teammates still expressed his gratitude for last night's hard work.
"We still thank God who gave the win. For the match, thank God, we were given victory thanks to the hard work of coaches, players and officials," Arkhan added.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Kanjuruhan Stadium made Indonesia vs Guam's match held without spectators. However, Arkhan admitted that the lack of support from the audience did not make him and his colleagues discouraged.
"There is no effect because we are excited whether there will be or not spectators in the match and the next," said Arkhan.
On the other hand, the 15-year-old player was saddened when he heard the news of the Kanjuruhan Tragedy that claimed hundreds of lives. Apart from gratitude for the big victory against Guam, he sympathized in the incident in Malang, East Java.
"I am sorry and we players pray that the victim is accepted by His side and the family is given fortitude," said Arkhan.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
