BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter
Selangor star Andik Vermansah admitted that he pleaded with head coach Maniam Pachaiappan, to be allowed to join the Indonesia national team in their friendly match against Fiji last week.
In the September 2 friendly which ended in a goalless draw, Indonesia head coach Luis Milla featured Andik in the starting line-up, before substituting him off in the 71st minute.
That was his first time back in action for the Garudas since the first leg of the 2016 AFF Championship final against Thailand late last year, in which Andik was injured, resulting in an absence of almost half a year for club and country as he recovered.
Speaking to Goal after training with Selangor on Thursday, the 25-year old winger remarked that he was excited to receive Milla's call-up, and asked Maniam to be allowed to join the national team.
"I was very happy (to have received the call-up), as I had missed playing for Indonesia. I was heartbroken to have missed the final (AFF Championship) and I kept asking myself; 'when do I get to join the national team again?'
"When I got a call and an e-mail (call-up), I pleaded with the coach (Maniam) to let me go, and promised him not to get myself injured!
"In the end I did not play the full 90 minutes, but it was more so that I could regain the mental state required for the national team," explained Andik.
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