Asian soccer matches will not be delayed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia have made it clear that
\nthey would not entertain India's request to delay their Asian
\nSoccer Championship Zone Four matches from early March to early
\nApril.<\/p>\n
\"We have notified the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about
\nour stance and the AFC has in turn informed India about our
\ndecision,\" Nugraha Besoes, secretary-general of the All-Indonesia
\nFootball Federation (PSSI) told reporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is scheduled to take on Malaysia on March 2 and to
\nface India on March 4 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The biennial
\nchampionship is divided into eight zones. Indonesia, Malaysia and
\nIndia are grouped under Zone Four. Winners of the eight zones,
\ndefending champion Kazakhstan and host United Arab Emirates will
\nlock horns in the final rounds whose date is yet to be fixed
\nsometime in October and November.<\/p>\n
Nugraha said he was not clear about why India should want to
\nsuspend the matches. \"Probably because they need more time to
\nprepare themselves after taking part in the South Asia Federation
\nGames a few months ago,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nugraha said he was informed yesterday by the AFC that the AFC
\nhas told India that Indonesia was unable to accommodate India's
\nrequest because such delay would play havoc with the home
\ncompetition schedules.<\/p>\n
Nugraha added that the Football Association of Malaysia had
\nasked PSSI's stance on the matter and had then decided to stick
\nto the existing schedule.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's national team is scheduled to play Mastrans
\nBandung Raya, runner-up of last season's Indonesian League, on
\nFeb. 14 and to go to Thailand on Feb. 15 for tryouts against
\nBangkok Bank on Feb. 18 and against Thailand's senior national
\nteam on Feb. 23.<\/p>\n
After the tryouts, the national team is scheduled to go
\ndirectly to Kuala Lumpur, Nugraha said. He added that PSSI is yet
\nto decide who shall become the head coach of the national team.
\nPSSI has two head coaches, Danurwindo and Andi Teguh. Danurwindo
\ncoached the Italian-trained junior national team, which has now
\nbeen dissolved. Andi Teguh coached the national team for the 18th
\nSoutheast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which has been
\ndissolved as well. Both teams' performances were marginal. (arf)<\/p>\n
Line-up of the national team for the Asian championship Zone Four
\nmatches (their clubs are in the brackets):
\n Goalkeepers: Kurnia Sandy (Pelita Jaya), Sumardi (Pupuk Kaltim)
\n Backs: Jaya Hartono (Asyaabab Salim Grup), Anang Ma'ruf (former
\npre-Olympic national team member), Nandang Kurnaedi (Persib),
\nRobby Darwis (Persib), Sugiantoro (Persebaya), Aples Tecuari
\n(Pelita Jaya)
\n Midfielders: Yeyen Tumena (Pupuk Samarinda), Nuralim (Mastrans
\nBandung Raya), Erry Irianto (Petro Kimia Putra), Chairul Anwar
\n(Asyaabab Salim Grup), Fachri Husaini (Pupuk Kaltim), Anshari
\nLubis (Pelita Jaya)
\n Forwards: Widodo C. Putra (Petro Kimia Putra), Perry Sandria
\n(Mastrans Bandung Raya), Rocky Putiray (Arseto Solo), Indrianto
\nSetio (former pre-Olympic national team member).<\/p>",
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