Egy-Ricky Kambuaya duet called up by Indonesian National Team, Dewa United asks for match to be postponed

JAKARTA – Dewa United coach, Jan Olde Riekerink, requested a change to the schedule for week 30 Liga 1 2023/2024 coming. This is due to the busy schedule between the Indonesian National Team and the competition.

As is known, the Indonesian National Team will face Vietnam on 21 and 26 March 2024 in the continuation of the 2026 World Cup Qualification round. Two of Dewa United’s mainstay players, Egy Maulana Vikri and Ricky Kambuaya, were also called by Shin Tae Yong for these two matches.

This schedule almost clashes with a number of matches in Week 30 of Liga 1 2023/2024 which will start on March 27. Dewa United will clash with Persita Tangerang on March 27, which means it is very likely that Egy and Kambuaya will be absent from that match.

“Our next match will be against a team that is fighting against relegation (Persita) and it will not be an easy match. We lost players (Egy and Kambuaya), I can’t imagine it,” said Riekerink at the PTIK Stadium, Jakarta, Saturday (16/3/ 2024).

Therefore, the Dutch tactician asked for a solution from the operator, namely PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB). He hopes that there will be a rescheduling of the match for week 30 which according to him is too close to the agenda of the Indonesian National Team.

“I hope there is a solution with this national team agenda because the basis of sport is justice and we help (send) players to the national team, if that is the rule I accept,” said Riekerink.

“Throughout the season I have been building a team. I hope they (Egy and Kambuaya) can perform and I hope we can postpone our match (against Persita),” he continued.

Currently, Dewa United is struggling to break into the top four and qualify for the championship round. Riekerink’s squad is now in 7th position with a total of 41 points and is only five points adrift of Madura United in 4th position temporarily.

(sto)