Asking The U-23 Indonesian National Team To Minimize Mistakes When Facing The Philippines, Egy Maulana: Must Be More Focused

Egy Maulana Vikri (Photo: PSSI)

JAKARTA - Indonesia U-23 national team midfielder Egy Maulana Vikri asked his colleagues to minimize mistakes when meeting the Philippines. It will be a crucial match to determine the journey of the Garuda squad at the SEA Games Hanoi 2021.

Indonesia will play the third match of the Group A preliminary round against the Philippines at the Viet Tri Stadium, Vietnam, on Friday, May 13 tomorrow. To be able to qualify from the group, the Garuda squad never lose points in this match.

"We have to play more focused, don't repeat mistakes and [must] concentrate," Egy was quoted as saying on the PSSI website.

Indonesia has only obtained three points from the two matches that have been played. It was the result of one defeat against the hosts Vietnam and one victory against Timor Leste.

These three points make the Garuda squad have to settle for sitting in fourth place out of five teams in Group A. Above Egy and friends, Vietnam and the Philippines are filled with four points and Myanmar in the top position with six points.

Egy said that currently he and his friends are focused on facing the Philippines. The reason is, the maximum number will mean a lot to them because there is only one game left after that.

"We focus on our own team how we can play as well as possible and beat the Philippines," he said.

Egy successfully scored the opening goal in the match against Timor Leste. Followed by the next four goals, three from Indonesia and one goal back for the opposing team.

Despite performing well, Egy did not play full time in that match. Coach Shin Tae-yong decided to enter Saddil Ramdani in the second half to replace Egy.

"There are still many matches ahead. Moreover, in the last two matches in the preliminary round, we had to win. So, I have to always be fit and some of my friends have also started getting fit because they got rest because some played full and not full," said the player who strengthened The FK Senica.

To be able to keep hopes of qualifying from the group stage, Indonesia must beat the Philippines and Myanmar in the remaining two matches.

Egy and his friends are targeted to bring home a gold medal from this event after the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, the Garuda squad failed to end the gold drought since 1991.