Mother of the captain Indonesian National Team U-16 Muhammad Iqbal Dwijangge, Besinah Haluk, still can’t hold back their emotions every time they see their only child in action on the field.
Besinah was filled with emotion because she was proud that Iqbal was on the right track to treading his childhood dream. Iqbal not only assumes the position of team captain, but is now one step closer to making history by bringing Garuda Asia to lift the trophy AFF U-16 Cup 2022.
Bes, his nickname revealed, Iqbal went through a difficult path. Apart from not being born into a football family, Besinah was also active as a weightlifter.
While talking to CNNIndonesia.com, Besinah admitted that Iqbal was never interested in continuing in his footsteps. In fact, the woman who is also a Civil Servant in Bandung almost every day invites Iqbal to watch her practice.
“He has loved soccer since he was little. He always comes with me to practice but was never interested in weightlifting. He was also offered to pursue athletics, but he didn’t want to,” Besinah said in an interview at Prime Plaza Hotel Jogjakarta, Friday (12/8) morning. .
“Iqbal just wants to strengthen the national team” [sepak bola Indonesia]. I’ve been like that since I was little,” he continued.
Iqbal’s love for football is getting more and more difficult to contain when Indonesian National team The U-23s, which was then reinforced by Titus Bonai, competed at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Soreang, Bandung Regency.
Besinah doesn’t remember the exact year. He only remembers the moment of riding a motorbike with Iqbal from Bandung to Soreang which is located in the Regency area.
Indonesian U-16 National Team Captain Muhammad Iqbal Gwijangge (right). (PHOTO ANTARA/Michael Siahaan) |
The funny thing is that Besinah and Iqbal were just desperate to leave. Both of them have not bought tickets to be able to enter the stadium to watch the action of Titus Bonai and his friends from the stands.
“I was defending there at that time. We don’t have tickets yet. Coincidentally, when Titus Bonai was there, he was a Papuan,” Besinah said.
“Then the police on duty told us to come in. It was suspected that at that time I was Titus Bonai’s wife [jadi bisa masuk tanpa tiket]. Because we entered with the players, we were able to watch their actions from a close distance,” Besinah said, remembering that time with a smile.
Seeing her son as he is now, Besinah never forgets to give thanks to God. Especially when I was a child it was not easy for Iqbal to buy equipment that supported his dreams, including soccer shoes.
The teenager who was coached at SWASCO and is now strengthening the Bhayangkara FC age team has faced limitations to get to the point he is now.
“I’m happy now because there is sustenance for my son, his struggle was not in vain. In the past, to buy soccer shoes, there had to be rations for others to be reduced first,” he said.
Currently Besinah does not stop praying. He hopes that Iqbal’s fortune and also his teammates can become champions in Indonesia AFF U-16 Cup 2022.
“I believe Iqbal can do it, God willing. I also continue to communicate with him, only via WhatsApp messages because he doesn’t want him. Let him focus on the national team,” he said.
Indonesia will face Vietnam in the final of the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup tonight.
[Gambas:Video CNN]
(jal/wiw)
[Gambas:Video CNN]
