IN trying to make the best out of a sorry situation, the Malaysian Selection team who were supposed to play in the Java Cup this week, will instead take on Indonesia in a practice game in Jakarta today.
The Java Cup has been postponed indefinitely following the withdrawals of Everton and Galatasaray which left the Malaysian Selection as the only foreign team to have arrived in Jakarta.
But an arrangement has been made to have Ong Kim Swee's mostly Under-23 side, who also features eight guest players including two foreigners, to play a behind-closed-doors game at the Gelora Bung Karno against a mixture of senior and junior Indonesian national players.
"We are trying to get a game against Indonesia and if it happens it will most likely take place tomorrow (today)," said Kim Swee when contacted in Jakarta yesterday.
"It won't be open to the public as we want it to be low-key. Security arrangements will need to be put in place if the game is not played behind closed doors.
"Since we are already here, we might as well make the best out of it. What has happened was beyond our control but at least we get a game after training for almost a week."
Java Cup organiser Liga Prima Indonesia Sportindo has threatened to sue Everton and Galatasaray over the late withdrawals.
"As of (Tuesday) night, we were still discussing with Everton and we didn't have any impression that they would pull out," chief executive Widja Widjajanto said on Wednesday.
"But suddenly, on their (Everton's) website, they announced their withdrawal. We will take legal action as we've already made full payment to them.
"They are lying if they said they did not know the opponents in the tournament because in the contract Everton agreed to come regardless of whoever they would play."
This debacle is the latest in a line of embarrassing events for Indonesian football, which has long been mired in controversy and was even threatened with suspension by Fifa following the launch of a rebel league.
Last November, two Indonesian spectators died in a stampede during the Sea Games final at Gelora Bung Karno, which also witnessed clashes between rival fans in May after a league match.
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