To celebrate Tohir's birthday, the Indonesian players "spoke wildly": consecutive victories against China and Japan strive to qualify directly

Written by Han Bing May 30 was the 55th birthday of Indonesian Football Federation President Tohir, who was in Bali for the group draw for the U23 Southeast Asia Cup, and had dinner with the Indonesian team at the Bali training base that night, as well as the birthday ceremony held by the Indonesian team for him and naturalized captain Ezes, who turned 25 on June 2.

Indonesian coach Kluivert, coaching staff and players all wore white shirts, while Romeni, Patilrama, Habna and Arhan were the representatives of the players, led by the Dutch coach to express their blessings to Thohir one after another. Perupesi and Odero, two naturalized players, as well as Ferdinand, a homegrown winger who has been suspended for the national team, sang in person. After that, naturalized central defender Shirges and local player Agave Nata also sang a song, and finally, led by the local player Putra, who was shortlisted for the replacement, the whole team sang and danced.

The birthday gifts Tohir and Ezes received were signed photos of the coaching staff and players. Tohir said that Indonesia's victory over the national football team and entering the play-offs was the best birthday present for himself. Local winger Ferdinand said that the goal of the Indonesian team is not to score 3 points, but to win 6 points in a row against China and Japan, and strive to qualify directly.

Tohir made it clear that the match against the national football team on June 5 must be won, otherwise the hope of reaching the play-offs will be very slim. Tohir praised Bali's training facilities and endorsed Kluivert's intensive training measures.

The Indonesian team practices twice a day, and it is strictly forbidden for the players' families to stay in the hotel where the team stays. The whole team is determined to win this game, and Thohir is also creating the most suitable public opinion atmosphere for the national team to prepare for the game.

Emphasizing the importance of naturalised players to the Indonesian team, Tohir said he was "free to come and go" – after naturalised defender Bargot refused to be called. Tohir said that the media and fans should respect the wishes of naturalized players, and stressed that he did not want Bargot to be blamed for this, "There is nothing wrong with Bargot focusing on club selection, and if he wants to continue playing for Indonesia in the future, the door is still open for him." ”

Tohir said that all the players in the Indonesian team are playing for the national team, and fans should not deliberately distinguish between naturalized and homegrown players, "Bargot has played for the Indonesian team and made contributions, and that is enough. We should respect his choices, including his possible return to the national team in the future. ”

Tohir stressed that if Indonesian football is to develop in the long run, at least for now, naturalized players are the core strength of the Indonesian team to achieve good results, especially in the World Cup. The Indonesian team also needs to introduce more and stronger naturalized players in the short term to increase the strength of the national team, so he needs Indonesian football to continue to maintain a tolerant and respectful atmosphere for naturalized players. Previously, when the Indonesian team had a poor record in the round of 18, there were already voices in Indonesia that questioned the naturalized players.