The busy schedule for the remaining four matches in Liga 1 2023/2024 means Persebaya players have to make several adjustments. Including the Eid homecoming schedule. Because the 31st week will be played on April 16, the Bajol Ijo squad will not be able to go home for Eid.
One of them is Persebaya attacking midfielder Muhammad Iqbal. Iqbal grew up in Padang Pariaman district in West Sumatra. His parents also lived there. It was his habit to return home for Eid.
However, with the current schedule conditions, he decided not to go home. Persebaya coach Paul Munster only gave him two days off, on April 10 and 11. Even though traveling to Padang by plane takes at least five hours.
“Looking at the holiday schedule, of course I won’t go home. If I had to, I would get tired of traveling. Moreover, tickets during the holidays also soar, so I’m just going to Surabaya for Eid,” said the player who was born in 2000.
Iqbal was brought to Persebaya in December 2022. Just this season he celebrated Eid in Surabaya. Even though he is far from his family, he says he is still grateful for the existing situation.
“Whether we like it or not, we have to do it, luckily I haven’t bought a plane ticket yet. “Meanwhile, I’m here for Eid and focusing on training first,” he explained.
Persebaya striker Wildan Ramdhani agrees with Iqbal. He gave up his intention to go home for Eid. Physical problems are one reason.
As is known, Wildan is a player from Bandung, West Java, using land transportation requiring a travel duration of 10 to 14 hours from Surabaya. If there’s a traffic jam, it could take much longer. Airline tickets are very difficult to get in conditions like now.
“In this case, I won’t go home, because the road trip from Surabaya to Bandung takes quite a lot of time. “In fact, I was tired from traveling, so I went to Surabaya for Eid first,” he said.
