Jakarta – The national soccer squad arrived in Kuwait on Saturday at 2:05 a.m. Arabian Standard Time (AST, or UTC+3) to compete in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification from June 8–15, 2022. Hundreds of Indonesian supporters in Kuwait greeted the Indonesian contingent, which included 23 players and 20 officials, at the airport and hotel.
Indonesian Ambassador to Kuwait, Lena Maryana, said in a statement received here on Saturday that her party welcomed all team members.
“The Indonesian embassy, as well as the supporter group in Kuwait, are ready to assist the Indonesian national team’s fight here,” she said.
She stated that the embassy had requested 500 tickets from the Kuwait Football Association for Indonesian supporters to cheer on the squad in person at the stadium.
She also spoke with the technical director of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Indra Sjafri, on the national team’s preparations, particularly the summer weather issue, as the average temperature in Kuwait may currently reach 45 degrees Celsius throughout the day.
Summer in Kuwait typically lasts from July to August, with average temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Sjafri praised the Indonesian embassy and the people of the Arabian country who welcomed the squad despite the fact that the players and officials arrived at an early hour.
“The Indonesian people’s support in Kuwait will motivate the team,” he said.
For the qualifications, the Indonesian national team has been put in the same group as Kuwait, Jordan, and Nepal.
Indonesia will play host Kuwait in the first match on June 8 at 7:15 p.m. AST or 11:15 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB, which is UTC+7).
Furthermore, Indonesia will take on Jordan on June 12 (10:15 p.m. AST) or June 13 (2:15 a.m. WIB), and then Nepal on June 15 (10:15 p.m. AST) or June 16 (at 02:15 a.m. WIB).
