REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MALANG -- Arema Cronus Indonesia and Persegres Gresik United clubs, both from East Java Province, will kick off the General Sudirman Cup 2015 soccer tournament on Tuesday evening (November 10, 2015).
Persegres Gresik United is not afraid of facing Arema, backed to the hilt by its supporters, assistant to Persegres coach Sasi Kirono said here on Monday.
"We will fight and put up a struggle to counterbalance Gonzales (Arema's striker) and his friends. We're realistic and will see the situation on the ground," Kirono stated.
According to him, Persegres will only field local players instead of the foreign ones.
"Our players will not be much different from the strong Persegres squad in the last President's Cup tournament."
Meanwhile, assistant to Arema's coach I Made Pasek Wijaya said in Malang on Monday that his club's target was to win the General Sudirman cup.
Soon after the opening ceremony of the General Sudirman Cup 2015, coinciding with the commemoration of the Hero's Day, Arema Cronus will take on Persegres Gresik United at the Kanjuruhan Malang Stadium.
Earlier, the Mahaka Sports and Entertainment, the organizer of the General Sudirman Cup 2015 soccer tournament, confirmed that as many as 15 soccer clubs will participate in the event starting November 10.
The CEO of the Mahaka Sport and Entertainment, Hasani Abdulgani, said here on Friday that the tournament will take place in three cities, namely Malang, Surabaya and Bali.
Group A (to be played in Malang) consists of Arema Cronus, Sriwijaya FC, Persija Jakarta, Persipasi Bandung Raya and Persegres Gresik United.
Group B (to be played in Bali) consists of Bali United, Mitra Kukar, PSM Makassar, Persipura and Semen Padang.
Meanwhile, Group C (to take place in Surabaya) consists of Surabaya United, Persib Bandung, Pusamania Borneo FC, Persela Lamongan and PS TNI (Military).
The Mahaka Sports and Entertainment, which is organizing the General Sudirman cup event to last until January 24, 2016, has also offered a cash prize of Rp2.5 billion for the champion.
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