PETALING JAYA: Pieter Huistra believes that Indonesian football is on the rise and is glad to be part of its burgeoning reputation in the region.
The Borneo Samarinda coach said that the gap between Asian and European football is still huge but small steps are being taken to plug the gap.
The Dutchman, who was Indonesia’s technical director from 2014-2015, said the football there has improved a lot and it can be seen through the performances of the national team, who are now competing in the World Cup 2026 third-round qualifiers.
“It is difficult for Asia to catch up with their European counterparts but we are seeing nations like Japan and South Korea doing well in international tournaments,” said the former Groningen coach.
“These nations are prospering because they have a good setup at the academy level, which to me is crucial.
“In Indonesia, we have leagues for the under ages and you can see already players coming through to the national team.
“In Borneo, we have improved the club, the players, the way it is being managed and also the style of play.
“We have progressed well in the last two years and the league itself has improved a lot with great competition among clubs.”
Huistra’s side are in Malaysia to take on Kuala Lumpur in their second Group B game of the AFF Club Championships at the Cheras Football Stadium today.
Many are expecting Borneo to be the favourites as they are currently unbeaten in the Liga Satu Indonesia.
“Both teams won the first game, so this would make the tie interesting. Our last game was on Monday, where we were held 1-1 by Indonesian Barito Putera,” said Huistra.
“So our recovery had to be quick especially with travelling but we are happy to be here, to play in this great tournament for South-East Asian clubs.
“We know Kuala Lumpur, we know the players and how they play, so in terms of preparation, we have done good.
“They have top experienced players like Paulo (Josue) and other top talents that can steer them forward.
“But we are focused on ourselves. We have a way of playing, which we call the Borneo way.
“We want to stick to our style of play and hopefully get a result in Kuala Lumpur.”
