Indonesian football face uncertain future after Vietnam drubbing

SINGAPORE – Vietnam sent Indonesia crashing into the international football wilderness with a 5-0 drubbing in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games bronze medal match on Monday, June 15.

Four first-half strikes, including a Vo Huy Troan brace, guaranteed an unhappy send-off for Indonesia, who now start an indefinite suspension from international competition.

Coach Aji Santoso said his team faced an uncertain future after the government ousted Indonesia’s troubled football body, prompting a FIFA ban for political interference. (READ: At SEA Games, Indonesia football team ‘determined’ due to FIFA ban)

“I think it’s had an impact on the mentality of the players,” he told reporters at Singapore’s National Stadium.

“I think that’s normal, because after the SEA Games they don’t know what they will do, because Indonesian football is frozen already.”

Indonesia enjoyed a heady run in reaching the SEA Games semi-finals, but they leave Singapore on a low after also losing 5-0 to Thailand in the last four on Saturday.

Indonesia’s football body suspended the top domestic league in April after a dispute with the sports ministry, which responded by freezing its activities.

World body FIFA then barred Indonesia from international competition late last month, but their under-23s were allowed to play the SEA Games which was already underway.

“I hope the case of Indonesian football will be cleared as soon as possible because it’s very disappointing for the players,” Santoso said.

“They don’t even know what they’ll do after this tournament.”

Indonesia’s problems mattered little to Vietnam, who were smarting from their 2-1 semi-final defeat and had an easy start when Hansamu Yama Pranata handled in the box.

Mac Hong Quan tucked away the penalty on 13 minutes, and Vietnam did not have to wait long before they doubled their advantage 8 minutes later.

Vo, put through on goalkeeper Teguh Amiruddin, finished with aplomb and then celebrated by fishing a Vietnam flag from his socks and brandishing it to the crowd.

But there was more to come from Vo, who buried a screamer from 25 yards for his fifth goal of the tournament on 41 minutes.

Nguyen Huu Dung finished neatly with a half-volley in first-half injury time, before captain Que Ngoc Hai turned in Do Duy Manh’s shot on 71 minutes.

While Vietnam can take heart from their big win and bronze medal, Indonesia will hope for a solution to their problems – hopefully in time for the next SEA Games in 2017.

“I don’t know how long FIFA will suspend Indonesia, it’s too early to talk about the next SEA Games,” Santoso said.

Defending champions Thailand take on Myanmar for the gold medal at a sold-out National Stadium at 8:00 pm (1200 GMT). – Rappler.com