AFC Cup Group Stage: Lampang vs Bandung! The frenzy of 12 foreign players — is Bandung the ultimate form in Asian competition?

Let's start with today's first matchAFC Cup Group Stage: Lampang vs Bandung!

Bandung is a very unique team with many special characteristics.

For example, they have 12 foreign players in their entire squad.

This is particularly strange,because the Indonesian Liga 1 forbids having 12 foreign players; they don't even allow them to be registered.

So, why spend so much on foreign players who cannot take the field? What’s the purpose?

Perhaps, the goal is precisely this AFC Cup Group Stage.

Everyone knows Bandung is strong. In this AFC Cup Group Stage, they defeated another Thai powerhouse, Bangkok United, both home and away. Lampang, by contrast, couldn't beat Bangkok United this season and even lost to them at home.

The main concern for many is Bandung's schedule.

Because in a few days, Bandung will face their title rival Borneo FC, a match that will basically decide the Indonesian Liga 1 champion this season, making it very important. So Bandung might rest players for that game.

But now there's no need to worry,because the Indonesian Football Association has announced that the match has been postponed to March, aiming to allow Bandung to focus fully on this AFC Cup Group Stage game.

Here comes a question — why is the Indonesian FA so considerate?

There are a few reasons:

(1) The head of the Indonesian FA, Erick Thohir, was previously one of Bandung's owners (a shareholder).

Although he officially withdrew from the club when he became Indonesia's state-owned enterprises minister, some personal ties remain.

(2) Now as Indonesia’s sports minister and FA chief, Thohir wants results, and a large portion of the Indonesian population also desires success.

Indonesian football has lagged behind for many years; the national team hasn’t even ranked in the world’s top 100.

With nearly 300 million people, the fourth most populous country globally, they are definitely not satisfied with such rankings.

No matter how well the domestic league performs, it has little impact on global recognition; achieving results in transnational competitions like the AFC Cup Group Stage is what gains worldwide acknowledgment.

(3) Bandung also has confidence because they are financially very strong.

The current owner, Glenn Timothy Sugita, is an extremely wealthy Indonesian billionaire, with publicly reported assets close to 30 trillion Indonesian rupiah.

Yes, you heard right — not billion, but trillion — 30 trillion! With such strength, supporting an Indonesian Liga 1 club is just a small matter.

(4) Bandung is regarded as a national football flagship club for Indonesia. This time is the first that an Indonesian team has reached the knockout stage since the AFC competition reform. It’s a rare opportunity that both Bandung and the Indonesian FA want to cherish.

Therefore, we see Bandung made significant reinforcements during the winter transfer window, even signing former Paris Saint-Germain player Kurzawa, showing great determination.

Bandung’s fans are also extremely passionate,with over 800 supporters traveling to Thailand to cheer for the team, which is very rare in the AFC Cup Group Stage.

Moreover, coincidentally,before this season started, Lampang and Bandung already played a friendly match.

Although it ended in a 2-2 draw,Bandung’s lineup was then undergoing massive changes, with nearly half the squad replaced, so their cohesion was very poor.

But now,after half a season, Bandung’s team chemistry has matured, and their strength is likely much stronger than before, when Lampang couldn't beat Bandung. What about now?

So, although Lampang is currently second in the Thai League and generally Thai football is considered stronger than Indonesian football, and the second place in Thai League is certainly strong,

Bandung is not an ordinary Indonesian team, and their performance might shatter common perceptions.

Will Bandung satisfy their fans? What do you think? I look forward to them winning the away game.

Alright, for today’s other matches, I will share my written opinions tonight. If anything is unclear, feel free to ask me. “Watch football and understand,” see you there!

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