Central Coast Mariners have received warm welcome in Indonesia ahead of the Club’s participation in the 2013 Menpora Cup.
Central Coast Mariners have received warm welcome in Indonesia ahead of the Club-s participation in the 2013 Menpora Cup.
The reigning Hyundai A-League Champions landed in Jakarta on Monday evening and were greeted at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport by tournament officials eager to assist the team on their transfer to Bandung.
Central Coast Mariners Assistant Coach, Phil Moss, was not surprised by the initial helpfulness and hospitality of the Indonesian organisers, having experienced the Bang Yos Gold Cup in Jakarta with Manly United in 2006.
“I took Manly United over to Jakarta for a tournament, the Bang Yos Gold Cup, a few years ago and it was a fantastic experience,” Moss said. “We were treated very well, the tournament was well organised and there were big crowds. It was a fantastic ten days away.”
“We didn-t get out of the Group unfortunately – it was very early in our pre-season preparations and it was a very late invite that we got – but it was a great experience. The boys at Manly at the time saw what Asian football has to offer, and it was certainly an eye-opener for me as a Coach.”
“That-s why when ‘Arnie- (Graham Arnold) told us about this invite I was very positive about going. The Stadiums in Indonesia, you need to see them to believe them – you get supporters hanging off the rafters during games!”
Moss outlined that the Mariners- intentions throughout the 2013 Menpora Cup are to improve as a collective and to use the time in a camp situation to further integrate the Club-s new players into the group.
Nevertheless, with a USD$75,000 cheque awaiting the winning team, Moss acknowledged that the Mariners would be gunning for glory against their tournament rivals.
“We-re expecting to give a good account of ourselves and represent ourselves and Australian football well, the way that we do in the AFC Champions League,” he said. “But we-re expecting three very tough games.”
“The Malaysian under 23-s have been in camp full-time for the past six months travelling around Europe, so they-re very well prepared for this. My scout over in Malaysia said they are in very good condition.”
“Sergio van Dijk plays for (Persib) Bandung. We hear they are a very good side and that they get great support, so we should be playing in front of a big crowd.”
“And Sriwijaya won the Indonesian Super League in 2012, so we-re expecting them to be a very good outfit.”
After arriving in Jakarta, the Mariners travelled three-and-a-half hours under police escort to their host city of Bandung.
The team will train for the first time on Indonesian soil on Tuesday afternoon.
Each of the Club-s training sessions will take place at Siliwangi Stadion in central Bandung, while the team will play its Group A fixtures at the 40,000-capacity Stadion Si Jalak Harupat approximately an hour-s drive from the city.
The Mariners will open their 2013 Menpora Cup Group A campaign against Sriwijaya FC on Friday 20 September. Kick-off is 3:30pm local time.
Central Coast Mariners 2013 Menpora Cup Squad:
1. Justin Pasfield (Gk), 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Marcel Seip, 5. Zachary Anderson, 6. Brent Griffiths, 7. John Hutchinson (c), 8. Nick Montgomery, 9. Mitchell Duke, 10. Marcos Flores, 11. Nick Fitzgerald, 12. Liam Reddy (Gk), 13. Hayden Morton, 14. Michael McGlinchey, 15. Storm Roux, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 17. Anthony Caceres, 19. Matt Simon, 21. Mile Sterjovski, 22. Tom Slater
Central Coast Mariners 2013 Menpora Cup Match Schedule:
Friday 20 September, 2013
Sriwijaya FC vs. Central Coast Mariners FC
Stadion Si Jalak Harupat
Kick-off: 3:30pm local (6:30pm AEST)
Twitter: #SRIvCCM
Sunday 22 September, 2013
Malaysia U23 (“Harimau Muda”) vs. Central Coast Mariners FC
Stadion Si Jalak Harupat
Kick-off: 3:30pm local (6:30pm AEST)
Twitter: #HMvCCM
Tuesday 24 September, 2013
Persib Bandung vs. Central Coast Mariners FC
Stadion Si Jalak Harupat
Kick-off: 6:30pm local (9:30pm AEST)
Twitter: #PBvCCM
Official 2013 Menpora Cup Digital & Social Accounts:
Website: www.pialamenpora.com
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/PialaMenpora (@PialaMenpora)
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PialaMenpora
