Indonesia to test Iraq's skills in Asia Cup soccer warm-up<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is to play a friendly soccer match
\nagainst Iraq at the Senayan Stadium next Wednesday.<\/p>\n
This will be Indonesia's first-of-seven planned warm-up
\nmatches before the Asia Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates,
\nwhich begin Dec. 4. Iraq has also qualified for the finals.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general of the All Indonesia Football Association,
\nNugraha Besoes, said yesterday there would be no diplomatic
\nproblems relating to the game although Iraq has been under United
\nNations' sanctions since 1991.<\/p>\n
\"The ministry of foreign affairs does not see any problems
\nwith the match, because Indonesia and Iraq have a close
\nrelationship,\" Nugraha said.<\/p>\n
Nugraha said Indonesia would pay the accommodation expenses of
\nthe Iraqi team, which is being groomed for the Asian Cup finals.<\/p>\n
The friendly match has been brought forward three days from
\nits original schedule to give the Indonesian team time to prepare
\nfor its overseas matches.<\/p>\n
The Asian Cup finals' draw last month put Indonesia in a tough
\nGroup A with Kuwait, host UAE and regular World Cup finalist
\nSouth Korea. Iraq, Iran, Thailand and 1994 World Cup finalist
\nSaudi Arabia are in Group B.<\/p>\n
After the match against Iraq, the Indonesian team will fly to
\nGenoa, Italy, where it will spend a month training. The team is
\nscheduled to play five friendly matches against European second
\nstringers Moldova, Lithuania, Estonia, San Marino and an Italian
\nsecond-division club.<\/p>\n
The national team of 18 players is scheduled to play its last
\nwarm-up match against favorite Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Nov. 28.<\/p>\n
Coach Danurwindo made a surprise decision when he sidelined
\ngoal machine Peri Sandria, Pupuk Kaltim's captain Fachry Husaini,
\nPetrokimia Putra's Eri Irianto and talented striker Kurniawan Dwi
\nYulianto of Pelita Jaya from the Asian Cup team. Peri played a
\npivotal role in helping Mastrans Bandung Raya win the Indonesian
\nsoccer league championships recently.<\/p>\n
Danurwindo replaced them with Arseto's former captain
\nSudirman, the league's best player Ronny Wabia of Persipura and
\nPSM Ujungpandang's Anshar Razak.<\/p>\n
\"We need players who fit our defensive team, not those with
\nbrilliant goal scoring instincts,\" Danurwindo argued. The team
\nhas not won a title since he began coaching it two years ago.<\/p>\n
Danurwindo opted to strengthen his team's defense to meet
\nstronger opponents in the Asian Cup finals.<\/p>\n
\"Our training sessions will heavily stress endurance
\nimprovement, because we want our team to stay fresh throughout
\nthe 90 minutes of play,\" he said. (amd)<\/p>",
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