by Oxford United fits life in Indonesia, since the club is preparing for its first pre-season game in the country today.
The U are in Jakarta on Thursday and started the President’s cup against an all-star team of Liga Indonesia at 7:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. BST).
The Indonesia international Marselino Ferdinan and Ole Romeny have stolen most of the ramp light so far, with their presence attracting both the media and the excited fans.
Air humidity, humility and a fantastic football arena: Day 1 in Indonesia
United head coach Gary Rowett said: “It is not her usual trip before the season, isn’t it? From getting out of the plane, excitement for Ole and Marselino and the passion for football in Indonesia was really revealing.
“I think the players and employees have really enjoyed it so far. Of course, it has different challenges, the heat and moisture and the getting used to.
“We are so early in the previous season, but it is what we’re doing here. It has been good so far.”
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Rowett added: “We would usually train twice a day. We strive to do this with the heat. It is once a day and the other session must be a meeting in the gym in the air conditioning.
“To play the game so early in the pre-season, where you normally play against a non-league team and you can make as many changes as you want, and rumor that we could play in front of 70,000 fans in a damp stadium. It will be a real challenge.
“Some of me as a manager, you have to differentiate whether you want to win everything you enter, but at the same time we also have to pull through the players safely, and we have to do the conditioning correctly. We don’t want to endanger people.
“It’s a really difficult balance, but still an interesting one.
“It will first be a challenge with the weather for the players. Many of the other teams will get used to it much more.
“Usually we would be on the road in Spain or Portugal. That would be your previous season in Moor standard. There are not many times the opportunity to come to Indonesia two weeks.
“It is probably not our ideal preparatory football, but with regard to a new culture, also a new football culture, it will be a really interesting journey.
“I probably felt a bit of afraid, but I think everyone has really hugged it so far and really enjoyed it.”
