Sumardji said the training camp in Bali was a positive capital to face China and Japan – Indonesia’s latest viral

VIRALTERKINI.ID, JAKARTA – The Indonesian national team officially left Bali on Sunday (1/6/2025) to continue preparation in Jakarta. This step marks the final stage towards an important match against China in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Over the past week, the Garuda squad has undergone intensive training camps on the Island of the Gods. The exercise took place since the end of May with high enthusiasm from the Balinese people.

A total of 28 players were brought in a group from Bali to Jakarta. All players are called in fit and combat ready.

Indonesian national team manager, Sumardji, expressed his appreciation to the Balinese for extraordinary welcome. He considered positive atmosphere in Bali to be an additional energy for the Garuda squad.

“I would like to thank profusely to the Balinese for the extraordinary support given to the Indonesian national team,” said Sumardji.

“This is a breath of fresh air and carries a positive aura for us,” said again.

Sumardji stressed that public support greatly influenced the enthusiasm and readiness of players. The presence of fans in an open training session was considered to have helped increase team motivation.

According to him, the transition to Jakarta became part of the mature plan of coach Patrick Kluivert. Jakarta was chosen as the location of the final concentration because of the proximity to the location of the match.

“As many as 28 players participated in a group from Bali, all in a fit condition. Two other players, Maarten Paes and Kevin Diks, will join directly in Jakarta,” said Sumardji.

The presence of Maarten Paes and Kevin Diks is expected to strengthen the back line of the national team. Both are scheduled to join the training earlier this week.

The coaching team will soon conduct a final evaluation ahead of the match against China on June 5. After that, the focus will turn to the second match against Japan on June 10.

Sumardji also ensured that all players understood the importance of the two matches. He stressed that the results in these two matches will greatly determine the chances of qualifying for the next round.

Preparation continues to run in a disciplined and directed manner under the direction of Kluivert. Management is optimistic that the Garuda squad will perform optimally in the next two crucial matches. (ma)