Azwar prepared to quit as PSSI chairman<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) chairman
\nAzwar Anas took the blame on Sunday for Indonesia's farcical
\ndefeat to Thailand in their Tiger Cup group match, saying he was
\nprepared to step down on account of it.<\/p>\n
Azwar made his comments on welcoming the national soccer team
\nback from the tournament in Vietnam, in which it finished third
\nafter beating Thailand on penalties in the third-place playoff.<\/p>\n
"If people want me to resign due to the bizarre match, then I
\nwill be ready to quit as the federation's chairman," Azwar said
\nas quoted by Antara, adding that he asked for soccer fans'
\nforgiveness for the team's failure to win the tournament as
\npromised.<\/p>\n
Coach Rusdy Bahalwan and team manager Andrie Amin asked to
\nresign on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Criticism poured in on the Indonesian team after midfielder
\nMursyid Effendy deliberately scored an own goal to give Thailand
\na 3-2 win and thus Indonesia avoided host Vietnam in the
\nsemifinals. Rusdy defended his squad's own goal, saying his
\nplayers were angry with Thailand's lackluster play.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Thailand were fined US$40,000 each by the ASEAN
\nFootball Federation for their unsportsmanlike conduct.<\/p>\n
Ironically, Indonesia crashed to Singapore in the semifinals.
\nThe Lions went on to win the Cup after defeating Vietnam 1-0 in
\nthe final.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian team received a quiet welcome at Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport. On their arrival, the players were whisked
\nto the VIP room, where dozens of reporters and the players'
\nfamilies were waiting.<\/p>\n
The players left the airport by their own transportation as
\nthe federation did not provide them a bus, as it used to.<\/p>\n
It had previously been expected that some people would greet
\nthe team with cynical remarks or even rotten eggs.<\/p>\n
That did not transpire. Instead, apathy reigned and nobody
\nseemed to care about the team's arrival.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs
\nAgung Laksono said on Sunday that the resignation of Andrie and
\nRusdy was not enough.<\/p>\n
"Both Andrie and Rusdy must publicly explain their team's
\nweird showing. I myself am waiting for their explanation," Agung
\nsaid after attending the inauguration ceremony of some professors
\nat Gadjah Mada University.<\/p>\n
Following the group game defeat to Thailand, the National
\nSports Council announced it would not send the soccer team to the
\nAsian Games in Bangkok this December.<\/p>\n
But Thai Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Ratakul said he had
\nasked Indonesia to reconsider withdrawing the team. AFP reported
\nthat in his message conveyed through Indonesia's ambassador in
\nBangkok, Bhichai said Indonesia should send the team for the sake
\nof ASEAN "spirit." (44\/lnt)<\/p>",
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