Indonesia risks losing Dutch-born mainstay in match against Vietnam

The Indonesian national team is at risk of losing midfielder Marc Klok due to injury. Recently, coach Bojona Hodak of Persib Bandung Club said that this midfielder is undergoing a medical examination.

" Edo Febriansah will join the national team as usual but Marc Klok is having problems due to injury. We have taken him for an MRI scan because he has been taking painkillers regularly lately ," said coach Hodak.

On March 9, Marc Klok still played for Persib Bandung in the national championship. However, this player felt unwell after that match and went to see the team doctor, Mr. Mochamad Rafi Ghani.

" He had a problem with his heel. It happens after a match or a high-intensity training session. It was fine during the match but then it hurts. Marc Klok often complained to me about this ," said Dr. Mochamad Rafi Ghani.

" We have to wait for the results first. Klok needs to rest and recover even though he has been called up to the national team. That depends on the test results ."

Marc Klok has a problem with his heel so he is not sure if he can join the Indonesian team.

Marc Klok was born in 1993 and is a Dutch player. He became an Indonesian citizen in 2021, played 19 times for the Indonesian national team and scored 4 goals. Klok's preferred position is central midfielder.

Marc Klok left an ugly image at My Dinh Stadium in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2022 semi-final between Vietnam and Indonesia. During a corner kick for the home team, Marc Klok dived while marking Doan Van Hau. However, Klok's actions did not escape the referee's attention. He was later shown a yellow card for pushing Van Hau.

Klok later admitted to diving. He said: " We were behind. At half-time, the coach told me to do something to get Van Hau off the pitch. I tried to annoy him but Hau was very smart. I tried to make it look like he was elbowing me in the face ."

Marc Klok is one of 11 naturalized Indonesian players in this March training session. Coach Shin Tae-yong is determined to increase the number of naturalized players to create an advantage over the Vietnamese team.

The next two matches will greatly affect both sides' chances of advancing. The Vietnamese team is currently second in the group with 3 points, 3 points behind leader Iraq. Indonesia has the same 1 point as the Philippines but is at the bottom due to a lower goal difference.

The first leg between Indonesia and Vietnam will take place on March 21 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The return leg will be held at My Dinh 5 days later.

Van Hai

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