Kurniawan joins national soccer team<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): International footballer Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto
\njoined the national soccer team yesterday for the 18th Southeast
\nAsian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, amid concern about his
\nfamiliarity with the squad.<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old striker completed coach Romano Matte's list of
\n19 players with just three days left for the team to prepare for
\nthe competition.<\/p>\n
Soccer kicks off this Sunday, with Indonesia playing host
\nThailand in the newly built Chiang Mai stadium. Thailand is
\ndefending the title it took in Singapore two years ago.<\/p>\n
Mounting skepticism over Kurniawan's late inclusion was
\nshrugged off by assistant coach Andi Teguh. \"We don't need a
\ntryout to give Kurniawan a chance to get used to playing with his
\nteammates. We can test him through a control game,\" Andi said.<\/p>\n
The coach said his biggest worry was that Kurniawan would
\nstill be jet-lagged after the flight from Switzerland. \"Three
\nplayers suffered jet-lag when they returned from Sweden,\" Andi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Kurniawan, who extended his stay with Swiss premiership side
\nFC Lucerne last year, will make his third international
\nappearance for Indonesia at the SEA Games after the Asian junior
\nchampionships last year and the Olympic qualifying round several
\nmonths ago.<\/p>\n
The All-Indonesia Football Association axed defender Yadi
\nMulyadi who preferred playing for Persib Bandung in the Asia club
\nchampionship that is now underway in Bandung, West Java.<\/p>\n
Andi said another player will be dropped after the SEA Games
\nsoccer technical meeting in Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is grouped with Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and
\nCambodia in the preliminary round-robin matches. The other group
\ncomprises Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. They
\nwill play in Lampoon, about 30 kilometers south of Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n
The top two teams from each group will advance to the cross-
\nover semifinals played in Chiang Mai on Dec. 12. The final will
\nbe held on Dec. 16, the eve of the closing ceremony. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kurniawan-joins-national-soccer-team-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}