Coach Park doesn't feel right with rescheduling of AFF Cup semifinal with Indonesia

By Lam Thoa January 5, 2023 | 02:55 am PT

Coach Park Hang-seo in a press conference before the AFF Cup semifinal against Indonesia, January 5, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa

Head coach Park Hang-seo said the host Indonesia need to reconsider when they changed the kick-off time of the first leg of AFF Cup semifinals with Vietnam for security reasons.

"It's not good to reschedule game time because of security reasons," Park said in a press conference on Thursday. "Indonesia will host the U20 World Cup this year and if they have to change time due to security reasons like this, they need to reconsider."

At first, ASEAN Football Federation scheduled the game between Indonesia and Vietnam at 7:30 p.m. (Hanoi time). However, the Football Federation of Indonesia (PSSI) decided to push the kick-off time three hours earlier. PSSI General Secretary stated the reason was to help police control the crowd better, after the fatal human crush in Kanjuruhan Stadium, which killed 133.

For Vietnam, the main difficulty is that the team don't have much time to recover. Not only that Vietnam have one day of rest less than Indonesia, the team had to fly from Hanoi to HCMC then to Jakarta. The heavy rain on Wednesday also prevented the team from training as planned. Vietnam only have one training session on Thursday afternoon to prepare for the game.

However, coach Park is confident that Vietnam will win. During his five years as Vietnam head coach, Park did not lose a single game against Indonesia.

"We have prepared well, physically and mentally," Park added. "We will try our best tomorrow. Indonesia are tough to play against, but Vietnam are strong enough to win."

Playing at Indonesia’s home ground Gelora Bung Karno is a big pressure for Vietnam because the local fans here are intense and somewhat extreme. Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) had to request the host to strengthen security to protect the visitors. Before the group stage game between Indonesia and Thailand last week, the bus carrying Thailand team to Gelora Bung Karno was surrounded, threatened and hit with objects by the home fans.