Indonesia’s appearance at the 2023 Asian Cup has made many foreign journalists curious. Even though they were not the favorites, the performance of Shin Tae-yong’s children received appreciation from journalists from the teams that faced Indonesia, especially Iraq and Japan.
Ahead of facing Indonesia, two Iraqi journalists always attend Indonesian training at Al Egla Field, Lusail city. Three Japanese journalists also happened before their team met Garuda.
One of the journalists from Asahi TV, owner of the 2023 Asian Cup broadcast rights in Japan, said they were blind to the strength of Indonesian football. That made them fulfill the audience’s request to cover the Indonesian team’s training.
Due to their lack of knowledge about Indonesia, they also did not know that there were Indonesian national team players who played for the Japanese League 2 team, Tokyo Verdy. He is the left wing defender, Pratama Arhan. Three journalists from three different media, one television and two print/online sports media based in Tokyo, also admitted that they had never heard of Arhan before.
Also read: All the difficulties experienced by journalists at the 2023 Asian Cup
KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN
Japanese player, Tsuyoshi Watanabe (left), tries to block Indonesian player, Pratama Arhan, in the final group D match of the 2023 Asian Cup at Al Thumama stadium, Doha, Qatar, Wednesday (24/1/2024). Indonesia lost to Japan with a score of 1-3.
In fact, Indonesian fans really applauded Arhan’s success in breaking into the Japanese League. Indonesian football fans also contributed tens of thousands of new followers to the Tokyo Verdy social media account.
In fact, several Japanese players asked Kompas to provide references for Indonesian mainstay players. Marselino Ferdinan is a player that Kompas recommends that they pay attention to in the Japan versus Japan match.
After the Indonesia versus Japan game at the Al Thumama Stadium, last Wednesday (24/1/2024), one of the Japanese journalists said, “He had a good game”. Not to forget, he gave a thumbs up gesture.
Apart from Iraq and Japan, two Vietnamese journalists also spied on Indonesia’s training before their team was beaten, 0-1, by Asnawi Mangkualam’s penalty. In fact, Indonesian journalists never came to training against the Garuda squad.
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KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN
Indonesian players (from left) Marselino Ferdinan, Witan Sulaeman, and Sandy Walsh, train on the Al Egla Training Facility field, Lusail, Qatar, Thursday (18/1/2024).
Kompas once visited Japan’s training which took place at Al Ersal Field, Doha, before the first match between Japan and Vietnam. After that, Kompas never again watched Hajime Moriyasu’s squad train.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to pay attention to the Japanese team’s training, but rather that he was bored because the training was too early in the morning or at 10.00. This time is generally breakfast time for people in Qatar.
Also read: Marselino Ferdinand’s multipurpose role
KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN
Photographers photograph Saudi Arabia’s coach, Roberto Mancini, before the match against Kyrgyzstan at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar, Sunday (21/1/2024). Mancini became a coach who was sought after by many photographers during the tournament.
Hunting for Mancini Photos
In the 2023 Asian Cup, many well-known coaches are now managing the Asian teams appearing. For example, Hector Cuper who coached Syria, Paulo Bento in the United Arab Emirates, Roberto Mancini in Saudi Arabia, Phillips Troussier in Vietnam, as well as several other names.
Of these legendary names, the one that gets the most media attention is Mancini. The Italian coach was recruited by the Green Eagle Team which has the ambition to become Asian champions. Not without reason because Saudi Arabia will also host the 2027 Asian Cup and the 2034 World Cup.
Mancini’s experience in managing elite clubs and European national teams is a reason for journalists to hunt him down as a news source. This includes photographers covering the tournament.
During Saudi Arabia’s match against Kyrgyzstan at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar, Sunday (21/1/2024), dozens of photographers who got pitch tickets on the sidelines scrambled to take pictures of Mancini.
KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN
Roberto Mancini, Saudi Arabia coach
Before the match started, photographers were already lined up waiting for the coach to emerge from the field. However, as if he already knew he would be waiting, Mancini came out last. And when he appeared, he didn’t go to the Saudi Arabia Team bench, but turned to the Kyrgyzstan Team bench to greet their coach.
Image hunters were fooled by Mancini’s behavior before finally being free to take photos when the national songs of both teams were played. The sound of the camera shutter clicking was like a serger. The photographer was satisfied and relieved to get a photo of the coach.
