Liverpool players (premierleague.com)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Liverpool Football Club will visit Jakarta to play a friendly match with Indonesian national football team at Bung Karno Stadium here on July 20, 2013.
The visit of the Club, known as “The Reds”, was confirmed by Liverpool`s Chief Media Officer Matthew Baxter and the club`s Ambassador Ian Rush here on Thursday.
“We have a huge number of fans in Indonesia. Many of them could not give their direct supports. Therefore, we will satisfy Indonesian Liverdpudlians here,” Baxter said.
Most of the core players of Liverpool will join the visit to Indonesia. They will include Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Couthinho, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher.
The visit to Jakarta is part of of the Club`s 2013 pre-season tour which will include Thailand and Australia, after signing a three-year partnership with Garuda Indonesia airways.
One of Asia`s most rapidly growing brands, Garuda Indonesia will become the Club`s global official airline.
Reds managing director Ian Ayre said: “This is a fantastic partnership for both parties. Liverpool Football Club has a huge international following and we are looking forward to working with Garuda Indonesia across many markets in order to capitalize on their rapid growth.”
“It is an honor for us to be associated with a brand that has become a leading player in global aviation, and in particular, a brand that has its base in a region where we enjoy such a passionate fan base,” he added.
“Indonesia is an ambitious country with a rapidly growing economy which the club has great affiliation with and where we hope to hold next year`s preseason tour,” he stated as quoted by LiverpoolECHO.co.uk.
The English Premier League member club is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on July 16, 2013.
“Besides holding the friendly match we would also do several other activities during our visit here as we would also bring along the representatives of Liverpool FC Foundation,” Matthew Baxter told the press.
Delivering a video message direct to supporters via the club`s official tour website – lfctour.com – Brendan Rodgers, the manager of Liverpool, said: “Hi, my name is Brendan Rodgers and I`m the manager of Liverpool Football Club. I just wanted to say to all of our great fans in Indonesia that we`re really excited and looking forward to our preseason trip in July 2013.”
“We`ve never played in Indonesia before, so we`re all very excited – and I`m very excited – to be able to bring all of the players and the football club to you, our great fans. See you in Jakarta.”
Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Djohar Arifin Husin welcomed the planned visit of Liverpool to Jakarta.
“The friendly game will be a dream for all (Indonesian) players. So we will prepare the best players to play against Liverpool,” he said.(B016/F001/O001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik Copyright © ANTARA 2013
