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| December 29, 2002 | Sunday | Shawwal 24, 1423 |
Home crowd a major factor in Tiger Cup final
JAKARTA, Dec 28: Indonesia has vowed to use their home crowd support to the fullest advantage against arch rivals and defending champions Thailand in the final of the Tiger Cup here on Sunday.
Indonesian coach Ivan Kolev said Saturday he expected a huge and boisterous home crowd would help pile the pressure on Thailand, which recovered from a poor start to the tournament to trounce favorites Vietnam 4-0 in the semifinals.
“We are in with a very good chance of winning tomorrow, especially if our fans turn up to support us like they did last night,” he said, referring to the big crowd that cheered on Indonesia’s 1-0 defeat of Malaysia.
“A big crowd turn-out might affect Thailand and that would be to our benefit.”
However Kolev, Indonesia’s Bulgarian-born coach, said his players would be relying on their own skills as much as the home crowd to propel them to victory.
“Thailand is a very good team in attack and defence and if we sit back, we will be punished. The only way to play them is to put them under pressure and keep the ball in our possession,” Kolev said.
“If we can do that successfully, then we will score and we will win.” Kolev said he had analyzed Thailand’s performances “and found some weaknesses that we will be looking to exploit.”
Indonesia beat Malaysia in their semifinal on Friday thanks to a late goal by striker Bambang Pamungkas, and their rivals’ failure to capitalize on chances.
Pamungkas is set to be the tournament top scorer with eight goals so far.
Thailand coach Peter Withe said his team was capable of improving further from Friday’s victory over Vietnam.
“Yesterday we gave a good account of what we are capable of and tomorrow we hope to better,” Withe said.
“I expect it to be an electrifying atmosphere out there tomorrow and I also think that both sides will have a good match.
“Both Indonesia and Thailand had poor starts to the tournament. In that sense we are similar as we have been getting better and better as we progressed.”
The Englishman said he was not preparing his players specifically to deal with the anticipated big home crowd at Jakarta’s sprawling Bung Karno stadium.
“I will be telling my players that they will be playing for their country and themselves and not to the crowd.”—Reuters
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