Pelupessy and James have become close friends after becoming roommates for the Indonesian national team. They won the ASEAN Cup together on Monday, with James scoring the winning goal and Pelupessy saving a penalty in the penalty shootout. In an interview with RTV Oost, they talked about their friendship, the win, and a memorable hotel room incident.
James played a key role in the final against Thailand, scoring the 1-0 goal just before time. "I thought I had scored the winning goal, yes. Then you get hit with it, and you're naturally disappointed," James said. Indonesia came back from behind, but eventually won the penalty shootout. James had no hesitation in taking a penalty, saying "I know I can take a penalty, so I said I'd take it."
The penalty shootout was a turning point for Pelupessy, who had been disappointed by missing out on the World Cup. "That had hurt for a long time. I don't normally take a long time to get over a lost game, but this one did. This gave us the feeling that we can actually win something," Pelupessy said.
After the final, Pelupessy left for the airport under police escort, while James celebrated with the team in the hotel. They didn't have much time to reflect on their achievement, as club football is already waiting. "It's tough," Pelupessy said. "The most important thing is to take care of yourself. That needs to be well-managed with the club, the federation, and yourself."
The two had a good time in Asia as roommates, with Pelupessy recalling a night-time incident where James crawled into his bed. "When I asked what he was doing, he jumped out of bed in shock." James, on the other hand, enjoyed Pelupessy's morning routine, where he would wake up and say "Good morning, top player" while already dressed and ready to go.
