"Moreover, the team is now preparing to play against Inter Milan on May 26, 2012."Magelang, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will send its national team to Palestine to take part in a football tournament there, according to Bernhard Limbong who is in charge of the team.
"This is the first football tournament held in Palestine, and to respect that country`s invitation the national team will go," he said here on Thursday after seeing a try-out match between the national team and the PPSM Kartika Nusantara at Madya Stadium.
Limbong said Indonesia was a big country that supported Palestine`s independence, and for that reason it was Indonesia, not the Philippines, Malaysia, or Vietnam, that had been invited to the tournament. He added that Palestine`s gesture had a certain meaning.
"The national team will go to participate and, therefore, it has no target of winning the tournament. Moreover, the team is now preparing to play against Inter Milan on May 26, 2012. So, the match with Palestine will be more like practice, like here now," Limbong said.
Regarding several players that had not yet joined the team, he said they were yet to adjust their clubs` schedules.
"Do not blow it up. It is a common problem. It is only about adjusting the schedules for playing in the national team or their clubs. They will certainly join the team," Limbong assured.
He said no player had talked about withdrawing from the national team, adding that it was only a communication matter between the national team`s management and the player's clubs`.
"If they did not come, certainly they would be given a sanction, especially moral sanction, as this is for the interest of the country. Another sanction will certainly come from the disciplinary commission of the Indonesia Football Association," Limbong stated.
(Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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