Ronaldo Kwateh Asks Indonesian National Team Not To Give Up Before Match Against Iraq In The Opening Match Of The U-20 Asian Cup

Indonesian U-20 National Team Player, Ronaldo Kwateh. (Photo: PSSI)

JAKARTA - Indonesian U-20 national team striker, Ronaldo Kwateh gave an injection of enthusiasm to his teammates ahead of the opening match of the U-20 Asian Cup. Going to face Iraq, Ronaldo Kwateh asked his team not to look daunted in front of their opponents.

According to Ronaldo Kwateh, their potential opponents in the opening match are a team to watch out for. However, the Garuda Nusantara squad must remain focused in order to give their best.

"Surely they are a good team, but we shouldn't be afraid before the match. We better just focus on our team so we can give our best," said Ronaldo Kwateh as quoted from the PSSI's official website on Tuesday, February 28.

At the U-20 Asian Cup, the Garuda Nusantara squad was included in Group A with Uzbekistan as the host, Iraq, and Syria. The first match will take place on Wednesday, March 1 against Iraq at the Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent.

Looking at the notes on paper, Iraq is a team that has an advantage. Even so, the opportunity to win for Indonesia is still wide open.

Moreover, Ronaldo Kwateh et al have also made careful preparations by holding a training camp (TC) in Jakarta for three weeks. The U-20 national team also held an international mini-tournament against three participants in the 2023 U-20 World Cup, namely Fiji, New Zealand, and Guatemala at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta to test their abilities.

With careful preparation, the U-20 national team then departed for Uzbekistan on February 24. The team's early arrival also aims to make it easier for players to adjust to the cold weather in Uzbekistan.

After four days in Uzbekistan, Ronaldo Kwateh revealed that the team's adaptation and acclimatization process went smoothly. The cold temperature of around two to 14 degrees in Tashkent City where the team lives can be faced by the Garuda Nusantara squad.

"We were able to get here safely and also here the weather is quite cold so we have adapted," said Ronaldo.

"Friends have also started feeling better in terms of breathing and everything, and hopefully we can adapt quickly, and in tomorrow's match it can be even better," said the former Madura United retainer.