Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bandung: Persib Bandung coach Emral Abus believes the Indonesian champions should not underestimate New Radiant of the Maldives, their opponents in Wednesday’s AFC Cup Group H opener, despite the Dhivehi League champions finishing bottom of their group in last year’s tournament.
Persib are making their first AFC Cup appearance having lost 4-0 to Vietnam’s Hanoi T&T in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League a fortnight ago.
However, the Indonesia Super League winners do have prior continental pedigree having reached the quarter-finals of the 1995 Asian Club Championship.
“I have confidence in my players and they will set their focus and put in their best effort to take three points against New Radiant,” said Persib coach Abus.
“New Radiant had a bad AFC Cup campaign last season as they ended the group stage in last place. But, they will return stronger as they have improved their squad. We have seen their videos and we know they will play differently than last season.”
Persib are also boosted by the return of forward Yandi Sofyan who was unavailable for selection against Hanoi.
Maldivian champions New Radiant, meanwhile, did encounter Indonesian opposition in last year’s AFC Cup in the form of Persipura Jayapura but lost both encounters to the eventual semi-finalists.
“All matches are different and we need to know the team we're going to play this year. So, (having played Persipura) is not an advantage for us,” said New Radiant coach Mika Lonnstrom.
“As I said, every match is different, sometimes you get easy match and sometimes it's tough match. Both teams have equal chance, it's 50-50. And it's going to be great match.”
In Group H’s other opener on Wednesday, Myanmar’s Ayeyawady United visit Lao League runners-up Lao FC.
MFF Cup winners Ayeyawady have previously played in the AFC Cup, but finished bottom of their group in both 2012 and 2013.
“Every first match in any tournament is difficult. But we will try,” said Ayeyawady coach Marjan Sekulovski (pictured, left).
“We cannot talk anything for sure at this moment. We will wait and see for the match.”
Unlike Ayeyawady, Lao FC will be making their debut in the AFC Cup and the young club will be marking another milestone in their short history having only been in existence since 2013.
“This is the very first AFC match for Lao FC. The level of the tournament is much bigger than what we have been playing. So, we will prepare accordingly,” said Lao FC coach David Booth (pictured, right).
Photo: WSG