Indonesia's football worries continued as its team heavily lost its two matches in the qualifying round for the 15th Asian Games. Led by U-23 national coach Foppe de Haan of the Netherlands, Indonesia fell 4-1 to Syria after earlier losing 6-0 to Iraq. "That's really bad news for all of us. But I hope this will be help motivate the rest of the national squad to perform their best in Doha," National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Agum Gumelar told The Jakarta Post.
The former chief of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), however, defended his decision to send the team to Doha despite its poor showing in several international tournaments leading up to the Asian Games. "The Asian Football Confederation asked KONI and PSSI to send the football team since we have missed the last four Asian Games. Besides, we had to send the team because we are hosting the final round of the Asian Cup next year," Agum said. It cost about US$3.18 million to send the national team to Doha.
The former chief of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), however, defended his decision to send the team to Doha despite its poor showing in several international tournaments leading up to the Asian Games. "The Asian Football Confederation asked KONI and PSSI to send the football team since we have missed the last four Asian Games. Besides, we had to send the team because we are hosting the final round of the Asian Cup next year," Agum said. It cost about US$3.18 million to send the national team to Doha.