JAKARTA — The stage is almost set at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium for Malaysia to make a roaring start to their Fifa Asean Cup campaign when they take on Bangladesh tomorrow (Sept 25).
The 4 pm kick-off will mark the start of Division 1 action in the inaugural tournament, four hours before hosts Indonesia take on Singapore at the same venue, with final preparations underway at the iconic stadium ahead of the double-header.
Bernama observed this evening that banners and bunting bearing the Fifa Asean Cup branding had been put up around the stadium, while the entrance gates were also decked out for the tournament and security personnel stationed around the venue, offering an early taste of the competition atmosphere.
Beyond the finishing touches at GBK, Indonesia has mounted a 16-day security operation involving 5,641 police personnel across Jakarta and West Java, covering stadiums, team hotels, training grounds and movement routes, with specialised units also deployed.
The football action will be accompanied by an opening ceremony on Friday night featuring performances by Indonesian singers Agnez Mo, Isyana Sarasvati and Afgan, alongside appearances by Asean football legends, with Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister and Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir scheduled to officiate.
World No. 181 Bangladesh will provide the first test for world No, 136 Malaysia before the temperature is likely to rise at the 78,000-capacity GBK on Monday (Sept 28), when Harimau Malaya face world No. 118 Indonesia in a much-anticipated regional showdown.
There is also more than regional bragging rights at stake. With the inaugural competition being held under the Fifa international calendar, participating teams can earn world ranking points from their matches.
Malaysia head into the tournament seeking to rebuild confidence after reaching the semi-finals of last month’s Asean Championship, with interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe recently telling reporters that his priority was to get the best out of the squad and regain supporters’ confidence.
