Indonesia has special strategy to fight China<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian soccer coach Benny Dolo said he had
\ndeveloped a special strategy for his team's match against China
\nin the 2002 World Cup Asia Zone Group Nine qualifier in Kunming,
\nChina, on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Benny said heavy favorite China would employ the same strategy
\nthey used when the two teams met in the 2000 Asia Cup in Lebanon,
\nbecause China was still coached by the legendary Bora Milutinovic
\nof Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n
"I understand how they play. I saw China's performance when
\nthey beat Indonesia 4-0 in the Asia Cup. They won't change too
\nmuch because Bora has been coaching the team since the Asia Cup,"
\nBenny was quoted by Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI)
\nspokesman Eddi Elison as saying on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said he had instructed his players to avoid making long
\npasses during Sunday's match. He also told them to mark the
\nChinese players closely to prevent them from crossing the ball.<\/p>\n
"I have also noticed that China's two strikers and two
\nmidfielders have excellent heading skills. I will ask my players
\nto prevent them from crossing the ball."<\/p>\n
Benny said he had received a summary of China's performance
\nagainst Cambodia on May 6. PSSI sent its technical director Jopie
\nLeepel and Bambang Nurdiansyah to observe the match in Phnom
\nPenh. The two met with the national team at its training center
\nin Singapore before the team left for Kunming on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"According to Jopie's report China is very well-organized,
\nallowing each player to change their play within the system. When
\nplaying against Cambodia, China showed a good sense for attack.
\nTheir players always try to pass the ball by heading it, using
\ntheir perfect physical stamina," Benny said.<\/p>\n
When discussing his own squad, Benny said Yaris had recovered
\nfrom a head injury and played for 85 minutes in Indonesia's 2-0
\nwin over Maldives in Male last Sunday. Yaris was replaced by
\nRonny Ririn for the last five minutes of the match. "Yaris is
\ngetting better and he has no problems playing."<\/p>\n
He also said he would not play Uston Nawawi against China
\nbecause of the player's accumulated yellow cards. "I might play
\nMatheus Seta Nurdiyantara in Uston's position," he said.<\/p>\n
One of the difficulties facing the Indonesians is the low
\ntemperatures in Kunming, which is located some 2,000 meters above
\nsea level. The team brought a sufficient number of oxygen bottles
\nas a precaution.<\/p>\n
Team manager Irawadi D. Hanafi said none of the players were
\nseverely affected by the cold. He said the temperature could
\nreach about 14 degrees Celsius at night while in the afternoon it
\nwas about 20 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n
"All the players are fit. They can continue training as
\nscheduled, but we aren't putting them through heavy workouts. We
\nare gradually increase the training program based on the players'
\nability to adjust to the local climate."<\/p>\n
Eddi quoted team doctor Harun Pardede as saying the players
\nshould be completely acclimatized by Friday at the latest. (ivy)<\/p>",
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