JatimVoice.com – Kakang Rudianto expressed his overwhelming happiness after achieving two major milestones: leading Persib Bandung to a championship title and contributing to ASEAN All-Stars' 1-0 victory over Manchester United in an exhibition match. The thrilling encounter took place at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday (28/5/2025). The sole goal of the match was scored by Myanmar national team winger Maung Maung Lwin in the 71st minute.
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| Source: kompas.com |
Although not initially in the starting lineup, the 22-year-old defender was brought on in the 68th minute, replacing Irfan Fandi to bolster the team's defense. Kakang, who was a last-minute replacement for Asnawi Mangkualam, delivered an impressive performance, showcasing solid defensive skills and seamless collaboration with players from various nations. A key moment came in the 79th minute when Kakang made a crucial block against a powerful strike from Manchester United’s Chido Obi.
Born in Cianjur on February 2, 2003, Kakang admitted he had no special preparation for the match, as his focus had been on celebrating Persib’s Liga 1 2024-2025 title victory with fans. He and his teammate, Malik Risaldi, only joined the ASEAN All-Stars squad a day before the game. "There was no special preparation because I was focused on winning with Persib and celebrating with the supporters," he said in an interview at Bukit Jalil Stadium, as quoted by BolaSport.com.
Despite the lack of preparation, Kakang expressed immense joy at the opportunity to play against Bruno Fernandes and his Manchester United teammates. His happiness was further amplified by Persib’s recent league triumph, which he celebrated with a victory parade alongside loyal fans. "I’m really happy because I just won the league, and now I’ve helped beat Manchester United—it’s double the joy," he emphasized. "I’m just extremely happy overall," added Kakang, who has also earned one cap with the Indonesian national team.
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ASEAN All-Stars
exhibition match
football
Kakang Rudianto
Manchester United
national
Persib Bandung
sport