INTERVIEW WITH INDONESIAN JOURNALIST, BANI MARYANTO
27th January, 2013
A - I'm Bani Maryanto, 35, a football journalist for binasepakbola.com. I live in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia.
Q - When did you first become aware of Irfan Bachdim?
A - When he first came from Holland with an Indonesian passport, to play for the National Team. It was around the middle of 2010. The news that he was willing to play only for Indonesia was the thing attracted me to him and he became my favorite player.
Q - What is it you like about his style of play?
A - He is very good when the coach gives him a free role up front. His agility as a forward is very high. He shows tireless movement through the game, even coming back to take the ball from the defence to create attacks.
Q - What do you think his strengths are?
A - On the field he has good fundamental, basic skills, which he got from his early days playing football in the Netherlands. Off the field I get the impression that he is very motivated to be successful.
Q - And his weaknesses?
A - On the field, it looks like he lacks a finishing touch. Off the field I've noticed that he needs to control his emotions a bit more.
Q - Which of his performances for club or country have impressed you the most and why?
A - One of them was when he played for the national team against The Azkals in a friendly match in June, 2012. He got the through ball after an opposition corner kick, than took the ball from the centre of the field on his own. He passed three defenders then scored through the legs of the goalkeeper.
Q - What sort of reputation does he have with fans of Indonesian football?
A - The fans see him as a flamboyant athlete. Besides his football skills, he has also featured in TV commercials.
Q - What sort of reputation does he have with the local media?
A - I am sure what Irfan does in football is always newsworthy for the local media.
Q - How much interest has there been in Indonesia over his transfer to Chonburi?
A - It has now become a trending topic on social media all around the country. Even his recent Tweets have already been written as headlines on one national newspaper website. And I'm also sure that many travelling fans would have to add a special visit to Thailand to catch a match to see Irfan with Chonburi FC, to their agenda.
Q - What is the general feeling about Thai football in Indonesia?
A - We are currently in a reformed federation and the Indonesian League could follow the success of TPL in terms of clubs professionalism and what that brings to the pride of the Thai National Team.
Q - Do you regard this move as a step up for him or a step down?
A - Surely this will be good for his career and help to improve his overall performance.
Q - How do you think he will adapt to playing in Thailand?
A - As I said earlier, it is my belief that his basic knowledge of football will help him adjust to a new football environment.
Q - How do you think he will adapt to the Thai lifestyle?
A - Where he is resident now in Indonesia, is the small city of Malang. Moving to Chonburi will be a good change for Irfan and his small family.
Q - What can we expect to see from him in a Chonburi shirt?
A - He will help to get more goals for the team and score a few of his own. Irfan has a will to give his best for the team with his assists or by only a small contribution.
Q - What did you think of his two performances for Chonburi in the Chang Chonburi Invitation Cup?
A - First of all, in Chonburi he has played in a different position to what he plays in Indonesia. He was playing in a right flank role, which is the original position he played in for FC Utrecth. He showed up well in the first match against Suphanburi. He made a good cross from a free kick, that went in the goal. But, unfortunately, it was ruled out for a foul on the goalie. He also showed that he can pass for the team and overall he played well with the team plan.
In the second match, again he was more of a team player He was taking free kicks and corners, and crossing a good ball in front of goal. He did this until he was taken off after seventy minutes, which I saw as the coach wanting to change the game plan, which maybe did not suit Irfan's style of play.
Q - And how have they been reported in the Indonesian press?
A - The news is concentrating mainly on Irfan's move to a TPL club, and is taken and translated from your local Thai media. There has also been a bit of criticism of him for not showing up for the national team, which is now preparing for the Asian Cup qualifiers. I, myself do hope that he will join your club soon and get a settled contract with Chonburi.
Q - Thank you.
A - Cheers.
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