Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Leeuwarden: On this day 79 nine years ago, the first Asian nation to compete at a FIFA World Cup took to the pitch in the French town of Reims, where they would lose 6-0 to eventual runners-up Hungary and exit at the first hurdle.
It may come as a surprise that the team in question on June 5, 1938 was not one of the continent’s traditional powerhouses but in fact the Dutch East Indies, modern-day Indonesia, who have failed to come close to reaching the global showpiece ever since.
But, following an impressive performance at the 2016 AFF Championship, momentum may just be building, as the-AFC.com found out when speaking to current star and Netherlands-based midfielder Stefano Lilipaly on an emphasis on youth and future aspirations, as well as the feel-good factor brought about by the positive Indonesian people.
Q: Firstly, how has life in the Netherlands been since you were last back in Indonesia?
The season was really good because we [second-tier side SC Cambuur] finished second in the table, although we didn’t make it to the top league because we lost in the semi-finals of the play-offs. We reached the semi-finals of the Dutch Cup also but lost on penalties to AZ Alkmaar. But we beat Ajax and Utrecht (Lilipaly's former club) so we did very well. I think I had nine assists and eight goals this season.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/stefano-lilipaly_1_indonesia_ls_jpg_1.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/stefano-lilipaly_1_indonesia_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/stefano-lilipaly_2_indonesia_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/stefano-lilipaly_3_indonesia_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/stefano-lilipaly_4_indonesia_ls_jpg.html
