Indonesia to Host Uruguay, Ivory Coast Friendlies

By: Wimbo Satwiko

The search for quality opponents for the national football team has turned up friendly matches against Uruguay and Ivory Coast, two countries that featured in the World Cup finals in South Africa, officials have said.

The National Team Body (BTN) said on Friday that Indonesia has been scheduled to host World Cup semifinalist Uruguay on Oct. 9 and former African champion Ivory Coast on Oct. 13.

BTN previously said it was trying to arrange matches against South American giants Brazil and Argentina.

Argentina has now been ruled out after it closed its tour schedule without Indonesia on its calendar, but BTN is still hoping to confirm five-time world champ Brazil. BTN has submitted a proposal to the Brazilian Football Confederation for a Nov. 9 friendly.

BTN head Iman Arif said Ivory Coast would likely bring some of its Premier League stars when it came to Indonesia. “Didier Drogba may not join the team, but the Ivory Coast federation has confirmed it will send its best players like [Chelsea’s] Salomon Kalou and [Manchester City’s] Yaya and Kolo Toure,” Iman said.

The cost of bringing the foreign teams to the country to play the friendlies is expected to be shouldered by a consortium of private companies.

To get Brazil, BTN, through a match organizer, will have to come up with $1.5 million in fees. The price for hosting Uruguay and Ivory Coast will be much lower, but financial details were not discussed by Iman.

Indonesia has had few matches against quality opposition in recent years, which some say is why the Merah Putih has struggled in international play.

While Indonesia has settled for friendlies against two second-tier domestic clubs this month, its Southeast Asian neighbors have already confirmed tune-ups against international sides.

Singapore is coming off a two-week training in Serbia, where it faced several domestic clubs. Vietnam is slated to meet North Korea for a friendly on Sept. 24.

As expected, Indonesia easily won its two matches against the Premier Division sides, routing Persita Tang erang 4-1 on Thursday and Pro Titan 3-0 on Sunday.

Arif Suyono, Bambang Pamungkas and M Isnani each scored on Sunday, with national team coach Alfred Riedl heading into the Idul Fitri break with the belief his team “played much better than last Thursday.”

Football officials have been scrambling to secure fixtures for the national team. BTN said it was also in talks for matches against China on Nov. 21 and East Timor on Nov. 24.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) said it received an invitation from Kuwait for a friendly on Oct. 17, but its secretary general Nugraha Besoes said it would likely decline the offer.

(This article was published on www.thejakartaglobe.com, Sept. 6, 2010)