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Football: Friendly Test for Indonesian Youngsters
Wimbo Satwiko | February 09, 2012

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Football | Wimbo Satwiko

Fans can catch a glimpse of the future national team today when the Under-21 side plays a friendly against South Korean club Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dolphin at Jakarta’s Bung Karno Stadium.

It will be the Young Merah Putih’s first, and only, international warm-up before contesting the Hasannal Bolkiah Trophy in Brunei from Feb. 25 to March 5.

Coach Widodo C. Putro said the friendly would give the team some much-needed experience, as it would be most players’ international debut.

“Most of the players have yet to experience playing against foreign club or even playing at Gelora Bung Karno, so they’ll get a feel of what it’s like to play an international match,” Widodo said on Thursday. “It will test their mental strength. In the previous five warm-ups they only played against local clubs.”

“Whatever the result, it will give players more confidence before going to Brunei. We want to be the best in Brunei.”

The Hasannal Bolkiah Trophy is an U-21 competition for Southeast Asian countries.

In its five friendlies with local club, the U-21 side won four times and drew once.

But Dolphin, which plays in South Korea’s second-tier National League, is likely to provide a bigger challenge.

“I don’t know anything about [Dolphin] but I saw them training this morning and they were pretty good,” Widodo said. “We’re aiming for a win against them because in football, the only thing that matters is the result.”

The coach was still waiting for the arrival of Persebaya Surabaya striker Andik Vermansyah, who is joining the squad after senior national team coach Aji Santoso decided not to call him up for a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Bahrain on Feb. 29.

“Andik will be a great addition to the squad,” Widodo said.

There are currently 25 players in Widodo’s squad, but the coach will only bring 18 players to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Players know they will have to impress the coach to secure their place on the team,” striker Yoshua Pahabol said. “I think we are getting better every day and all the players are eager to show the coach their strength.”