Host Indonesia banks on senior players in W. Cup qualifier<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With limited preparation time, host Indonesia is
\nrelying on its senior players to earn a full three points over
\nthe Maldives in the 2002 World Cup soccer prequalifying match at
\nBung Karno stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Sunday.<\/p>\n
National team coach Benny Dolo told reporters in a media
\nbriefing on Saturday that the decision to field seniors was
\nreached because he did not want to underestimate the visitor, the
\nMaldives.<\/p>\n
"Soccer fans will see familiar faces dominating the team but
\nit's still facing problems with teamworking. Our preparation time
\nis very short, so I've had to take a shortcut. I will optimize
\nthe seniors."<\/p>\n
Benny said he was satisfied with the youngsters' performance
\nduring training. The under 23-year-old players in the team are
\nalso being groomed for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala
\nLumpur in September.<\/p>\n
"I am considering putting more young players in the midfield.
\nUp front, I will likely field duo Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and
\nBambang Pamungkas.<\/p>\n
"In the defense zone, I might put trio Aples Gideon Tecuari,
\nWarsidi and either Eko Purdjianto or Sugiantoro."<\/p>\n
RCTI will broadcast the match live on Sunday at 4 p.m. Jakarta
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Top player Bima Sakti is appointed as team captain.<\/p>\n
Bima said that the team would attack in the early minutes and
\nwould try to score goals from counter attacks.<\/p>\n
"Oom Benny instructed us to put the Maldivians under pressure
\nin the first few minutes. Hopefully they won't play defensively
\nat that time."<\/p>\n
Bima praised his juniors in the team, saying that they were
\nfull of enthusiasm to learn.<\/p>\n
"They are full of high spirits. They believe that performing
\nin the pre-qualifying round will enrich their experience," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Bima said that he did not know about Maldives' playing skills.
\nHis counterpart, Mohamed Ibrahim also said the same thing.<\/p>\n
"I don't know anything about the Indonesian team. I can't say
\nanything about the match. We want to win this match and we will
\nfight hard for it," Bima said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian squad started practising only on March 11 and
\nsome key players from PSM Makassar joined the team earlier this
\nmonth after competing in the East Asian zone quarterfinals of the
\nAsian Champions Cup.<\/p>\n
Maldives has competed in six friendlies against Oman, Thailand
\nand Singapore as a warm-up to the prequalifying round and it was
\nnot another April fool's joke when it managed to defeat Cambodia
\n6-0 in its first match in Male.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the Indonesian team has only played local
\nclubs, including a university soccer club, to test its skills.
\n(ivy)<\/p>",
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