Become a traveler for the Indonesia vs Uzbekistan match

Indonesian diaspora residents are willing to travel overland for hours to watch "Young Garuda" fight.

ARSIP HARTOYO

The atmosphere in the stadium during the Indonesia vs Jordan match.

In order to support the Indonesian U-23 team competing in the U-23 Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, Hartoyo Sudiro (42) and his family were willing to become travelers. They went back and forth from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to Qatar. Hartoyo with his wife, Aprilianita, and two children aged 9 and 14 years went from Abu Dhabi to Qatar by car.

"We traveled by car to Qatar through Saudi Arabia for eight hours. So, we had to pass through three layers of borders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, to Qatar. It was a struggle to support the national team, but we were very happy," said Hartoyo, who has been working as a geologist for an oil and gas company in Abu Dhabi since 2013, on Sunday (April 28, 2024), over the phone.

Hartoyo has traveled back and forth between the UAE and Qatar three times since January during the senior Asian Cup event. Distance is not a problem. The hassle comes from having to go through three inspections, from passport to customs.

To watch the semifinal match between Indonesia versus Uzbekistan, the Hartoyo family departed from Abu Dhabi on Saturday (27/4/2024) morning. Monday (29/4/2024), Hartoyo took time off so he could watch the national team. After that, we went back to Abu Dhabi and went straight to work in the morning. “But, children are forced to miss school. "It's okay, for the sake of the national team which is playing very well," said Hartoyo.

ARSIP HARTOYO

Indonesian diaspora residents, Hartoyo and family, during the Indonesia vs Jordan match.

When Indonesia faced Jordan, it was a more ideal time for Hartoyo and his family because the match took place on Sunday. After the game, they immediately went home. "The next morning, I didn't even sleep and went straight to work," he said.

To watch the semifinal match, Hartoyo and his family chose to stay in a hotel occupied by the national team. "We did this because my eldest child wanted to see Marcelino up close," added Aprilianita.

Also read: The Best Generation of the Indonesian National Team is One Step Away from Being Created

Apart from him, there were at least four families of Indonesian supporters staying there. Aprilianita said that almost every day there were Indonesian supporters who came to the hotel to see the national team. "Even this morning (Sunday) there were around 20 Indonesian diaspora mothers who booked breakfast at the hotel. They actually don't necessarily know football, but because the euphoria for the Indonesian national team is high, yes, come watch too. "Right, not many thought that Indonesia could achieve this high," he said with laughter.

Mothers who previously didn't like football suddenly become enthusiastic. They made reservations at the hotel restaurant where the national team players stayed. The arrival of "Garuda Muda" to Qatar became a moment to hold joint savings and halal bihalal among Indonesian citizens residing on the Arabian Peninsula.

Video of the atmosphere outside the stadium during the Indonesia vs Jordan match

Regarding the semifinal party, according to Hartoyo, it is likely that the Indonesian diaspora in several neighboring countries of Qatar will have more arrivals. He heard that the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi will prepare buses to transport Indonesian supporters from Abu Dhabi. "But the majority of Indonesian diaspora spectators will still be in Qatar, perhaps around 85 percent," said Hartoyo, who mentioned his family as long-time fanatical supporters of the Indonesian national team. They always try to watch the national team play in the Arabian peninsula even when their performance was not as good as it is now.

To watch the Indonesian national team in Qatar, the Hartoyo family spent millions of rupiah on a single trip from Abu Dhabi. "The cost of gasoline is around IDR 1.6 million for a round trip. For a regular hotel, it costs around IDR 1.2 million per day. If the tickets are cheap, it's only IDR 100,000 per person for category I and IDR 60,000 for category 2," he explained.

Also read: Indonesia vs Uzbekistan, Shin Tae-yong Beware of the "White Wolf" Transition

They got tickets through the Indonesian supporters group in Qatar, namely Garuda Ultras Qatar. "If you buy online, it's difficult. "In just a moment it will be gone," said Hartoyo, who also watched the senior national team's matches at the 2024 Asian Cup last January.

Video of the atmosphere outside the stadium during the Indonesia vs Jordan match

What does it feel like to witness history by watching the national team live? "Of course, we are very happy. This is amazing because we have been watching the Indonesian national team since long ago. The current team makes us have pride. In the past, we often watched the national team lose. But, regardless of winning or losing, if the game is good, we are definitely proud," said Aprilianita.

Hartoyo said that they are very happy to be witnesses to history. Hartoyo, who has always been following the national team's games since working in Jakarta, was surprised by the way the national team is playing now.

"When I played against Jordan, I was still pessimistic because Jordan was a good team, but the Indonesian national team was visionary, they had a good mentality. All good players. In the past, when we watched the national team and were slaughtered, we were so embarrassed. People say it's okay, man. Now the atmosphere and euphoria are very different. "Everyone is optimistic that (Indonesia) will enter the final," he said.

Half day leave

Indonesian diaspora in Doha, Qatar, Ekky Nugroho Mahardhika (35), along with his wife and two children aged 10 and 12, are also very enthusiastic to watch the Indonesia versus Uzbekistan match. Ekky has requested half-day leave from his employer in the oil and gas company where he works. The half-day leave is specifically for watching the Garuda Muda match.

Video of the atmosphere inside the stadium during the Indonesia vs Jordan match

It so happens that school hours for children in Qatar only last until 2 PM local time. There's still time for Ekky and his family to head to the stadium, the latest being at 2:30 PM local time. The quicker they arrive at the stadium, the better chance they have of getting a parking spot close to the stadium.

According to Ekky, who has lived in Qatar since 2020, it is not easy to get tickets to the Indonesian national team matches. Tickets sold online sell out very quickly. Ekky and his family received tickets from the ticket allocation distributed by the Indonesian supporters group, namely Garuda Qatar. Ticket wars or ticket wars really happen. It takes a hard struggle to get it.

Also read: Support Indonesia U-23, Record Attendance in Qatar and Nobar throughout Indonesia

Indonesian residents in Qatar also help fellow Indonesians who have difficulty getting tickets. According to Ekky, there was a resident of Surabaya who went to Qatar just to watch the match but did not have a ticket. In the end, the resident of Surabaya was able to witness their favorite team thanks to the assistance of Indonesian diaspora in Qatar.

"The euphoria of Indonesian citizens in Qatar is truly crazy. We simply want to see the national team perform well because we are thirsty for football achievements," said Ekky, whose face is often caught on television cameras as he wears Korpri batik clothes while watching the national team's matches.

AFC

The actions of Indonesian supporters in providing support against South Korea during the quarter-final match of the 2024 Asian U-23 Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Friday (26/4/2024) in the early morning hours were noteworthy. Indonesia defeated South Korea through a penalty shootout. This victory led Indonesia to the semifinals.

"From the preliminary rounds to the quarterfinals, I always watch. Since my college days, I have been fond of the national team. Now it's time for the national team to evolve with Coach Shin Tae-yong," he continued.

Ekky explained that Indonesian supporters always prepare well in advance of matches. There is a "gebuk" team, composed of supporters who play percussion instruments. They practice before the big day to ensure their performance is excellent. They also share songs and chants that will be performed during the match. This is how Indonesian spectators who are not familiar with football become acquainted with it. This makes Indonesian supporters appear united and able to serve as the twelfth player for the national team.

"I am touched to see people in Indonesia holding watch parties everywhere. It's so lively. I got goosebumps. Everyone is thirsty for achievement," said Ekky.

Hopefully the hopes of Hartoyo, Ekky, and thousands of Indonesian diaspora in Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia will come true. The young Garuda advances to the final and secures a ticket to the Paris Olympics!