Indra seeking double celebration

Indra seeking double celebration

JAKARTA (Agencies): Indra Tohir, coach of Indonesian champion Persib, will be hoping for a double celebration this weekend when his squad entertains Bangkok Bank in their Asian Club Championship's second leg's first round in Bandung.

Indra was named the Asian Football Confederation coach of the month for September after his club from West Java won the Indonesian league championship.

Persib followed up its title triumph with an away 2-0 victory over the Bangkok side in the first leg early this month. It is favored to finish the job tomorrow at the Siliwangi stadium.

"I have urged all my players to fight it out to complete our job here. I warn them not to belittle the Thais despite our away win," Indra said during a training session yesterday.

The Thais arrived in the capital city of West Java province on Wednesday.

Indra did not gather his players in a centralized training stint as he did prior to their visit to Bangkok.

Persib's chief, Wahyu Hamijaya, expressed his guarded optimism that his team would take full advantage of playing before their home crowd to overcome their visitors.

"We are ready to score a second win in a row," Wahyu said after receiving financial aid worth Rp 11 million (US$5,000) from a private bank, Indo Monex, yesterday. The cash donation was granted to Persib for its formidable performance this year.

If Persib manages to win, its next match will be against Philippine champion Pasay City which will travel Guam's Tumon Typhoon in Mangilao tomorrow. Despite the home advantage, Tumon faces an impossible 7-0 deficit from the first leg.

The top two clubs from the West and East Asia regional competitions will go through to the semifinals of the Club Championship in December.

In East Asia, cup holder Thai Farmers Bank got a bye into the second round, where it will meet Mohan Bagan of India or Maldivian team Valencia. Moohan Bagan won the first leg 2-1 in Calcutta and the return is in Male today. (amd)