Nandar instructs team to secure midfield<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's national team coach, Nandar
\nIskandar, said his players would have to control the midfield to
\nwin their first match against Hong Kong in the home-and-away
\nprequalifying round of the Asian Cup at Mong Kok Stadium, Hong
\nKong, on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Nandar said the Hong Kong team's midfield were quick and
\naccurate in controlling and passing the ball on to the forwards.
\nHe observed the team's performance against Cambodia on Monday
\nwhere Hong Kong won 4-1.<\/p>\n
\"All four goals were created by Hong Kong's midfield who
\nmanaged to take control of the center of the pitch,\" he told
\nreporters on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
Nandar said he would instruct his players to secure the
\nmidfield particularly when their opponents where in possession of
\nthe ball in this area.<\/p>\n
\"Our players should be able to block the Hong Kong midfield
\nplayers and not to allow them to pass the ball to the forwards,\"
\nhe was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Nandar hoped that midfield players Imron Nahumahuri, Bima
\nSakti, Uston Nawawi and Ali Sunan could do the job successfully.
\nHe also said that Hong Kong players might win more balls in air
\nas they are taller than Indonesian players.<\/p>\n
However, he is optimistic that Indonesia has a chance to win
\nthe first leg as the Hong Kong team \"is not very special\".<\/p>\n
The team will leave for Hong Kong on Friday. After that, it
\nwill fly to Pnomh Penh on Oct. 26 to challenge Cambodia in the
\nsecond match on Oct. 30.<\/p>\n
Nandar said the Cambodian team was not as strong as the one
\nwhich competed in the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei
\nDarussalam last August, although most of players competed in the
\nGames.<\/p>\n
\"The team is no longer coached by the German Joachim Flickert.
\nBut we have to be careful because the local fans will get right
\nbehind their team,\" he said. (ivy)<\/p>\n
Team lineup<\/p>\n
Goalkeepers: Hendro Kartiko, Sahari Gultom
\nDefenders: Aji Santoso, Anang Ma'ruf, Eko Purjianto, Sugiantoro,
\nIsmed Sofyan, Nur'Alim, I Made Pasek Wijaya
\nMidfield players: Ali Sunan, Alexander Saununu, Bima Sakti,
\nHariyanto Prasetyo, Imran Nahumarury, Uston Nawawi
\nForwards: Bambang Pamungkas, Rocky M.E. Putiray, Widodo C. Putro<\/p>",
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