Jayapura, 15/4 (Jubi) – Persipura Jayapura is its potential opponents in the last 16 of the AFP Cup, coach Jacksen F Tiago said.
“We have not made preparations for the round of 16. In the meantime, I’m just collecting information on a few teams that are likely to be our opponents later,” Tiago said on Tuesday (15/4).
He said Boaz Solossa and his friends we still focusing on upcoming three games in the Indonesia Super League (ISL) against Persebaya Surabaya, PSM Makassar and Perseru Serui at the Mandala stadium.
“Later, after those games, we will immediately prepare for AFC Cup. We also still have one match remaining in the preliminary round Group E AFC, against Home United of Singapore at Mandala at the end of April,” he said.
The Brazilian declined to reveal the team’s possible line-up.
“We will look at the ISL games. Anything can happen. Persipura has definitely entered the next stage of AFC Cup,” he said.
Persipura became the only unbeaten team in Group E of AFC Cup, with three wins and two draws. The outcome of the remaining game will not affect its position in the group.
“We hope to continue to move in the AFC and our achievement is better than in 2011. This is just the first step, there is the round of 16 which is more important,” Tiago said.
Persipura fan Albert Renwarin said the side had it easy in the group stage because on of the clubs were superiors to the Black Pearls”.
“Luckily, none of the clubs is from Iraq or Thailand. The real test actually is the last 16. If Persipura is qualified, then strong rivals in the quarter-finals will await,” said Renwarin. (Jubi / Arjuna/ Tina)
