The Netherlands Ready to Face Off Against Indonesian Football Team

Jakarta Globe, Ian Dulkowski, May 8, 2013

Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder, right, celebrates with Giovanni van Bronckhorst
 after scoring in the 2010 World Cup match against Uruguay on July 6, 2010.
(AFP Photo/Thomas Coex).

The Netherlands will play against the Indonesian football team in Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on June 7.

The Royal Netherlands football association and its Indonesian counterpart signed the contract this week. The Netherlands team manager Louis van Gaal said, “We know that our national team and their players enjoy fantastic support in Indonesia and we are looking forward to bringing Oranje closer to these loyal fans.”

van Gaal added the historical bonds between the countries will make “this visit even more special.”

Jean Paul Decossaux, commercial director of KNVB, said, “We would like to share our know how and experience in football with Indonesia. Therefore a special program will be designed, which will help the Indonesian FA to develop their football knowledge and structure.”

CEO of Nine Sport, partner of the Indonesian FA, Arif Wicaksono, said, “We choose to invite the Netherlands because of three things. First, the world is now entranced by Tiki Taka, which originally came from Holland. Total football was first used by Ajax in 1969 and later on adapted by the Dutch National Team in 1974.

“Secondly, the historical background will make an exciting match as this will be the first match ever between the two nations. And lastly, as we are going to officially register this match with FIFA, this friendly could boost Indonesia in FIFA rankings.”

Related Article:

Ajax backs Chinese youth footballer television talent show