Nandar replaces Schumm as national team coach<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI),
\nbowing to pressure from local fans, announced on Friday that
\nNandar Iskandar would replace German Bernard Schumm as the
\nnational team coach.<\/p>\n
PSSI chairman Agum Gumelar said Nandar's first assignment
\nwould be to prepare the team for the prequalifying round of the
\nAsia Cup, set to kick off on Oct. 23 in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
\"The officials' meeting decided to replace Schumm. We
\nappreciated his effort. If we use clear thinking, I believe
\nSchumm is not as bad as the condemnation he has received from the
\nsoccer community. He has good training methods, relationships
\nwith the players and he is astute in observing the rivals'
\nstrengths.<\/p>\n
\"But he doesn't have the Midas touch,\" said Agum in a news
\nconference at the National Resilience Institute, which he heads.<\/p>\n
Indonesian soccer fans were dismayed and angered by the poor
\nperformance of the team in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
\nin Brunei Darussalam early this month.<\/p>\n
The team took home the bronze medal after falling to unrated
\nVietnam in the semifinals. Defending champion Thailand retained
\nthe gold medal by beating Vietnam in the final.<\/p>\n
Agum said Schumm would remain in his post as PSSI technical
\ndirector until the federation held its four-day congress starting
\non Sept. 19.<\/p>\n
Nandar is the former coach of Bandung-based Persib soccer
\nclub and assistant coach to Rusdy Bahalwan in the Tiger Cup in
\nHanoi last year. He will be assisted by Dananjaya and Mohammad
\nZen will remain the team manager.<\/p>\n
Agum said he would consider extending Nandar's tenure as coach
\nif he led the team to qualify for the Asia Cup top 12.<\/p>\n
\"PSSI's athletes development officials should start arranging
\ntraining programs and scheduling tryouts prior to the Asia Cup
\npre-qualifying round. We plan to start the training program on
\nSept. 1.\"<\/p>\n
Agum will retain the entire SEA Games team lineup and will
\nalso invite national top striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and
\nTugiyo of PSIS Semarang to join the training.<\/p>\n
Kurniawan was withdrawn from the team for the Games after
\ntesting positive for amphetamines in a drug test one month before
\nthe event.<\/p>\n
Agum said PSSI would not suspend Kurniawan.<\/p>\n
\"I made the decision in my capacity as PSSI chairman. I
\nbelieve Kurniawan will change his attitude,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As for Tugiyo, Agum said he had observed his performance in
\nthe fifth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) in April, where he
\nkicked the sole goal in the final between PSIS and Persebaya
\nSurabaya. PSIS won the final after a 12-year title drought.<\/p>\n
\"He's very dangerous in the penalty box. He proved it when
\nplaying against Persebaya,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Agum also said that in the sixth Ligina, to kick off in
\nNovember, PSSI will stop supporting clubs financially and
\nencourage them to seek their own sponsorships.<\/p>\n
\"When we support them, some people accused PSSI of
\nmonopolizing the soccer club. After this decision, I hope in the
\nfuture there will be no complaints that PSSI neglects the club,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Agum also said he was ready to be elected as PSSI chairman in
\nthe congress if it was the public's wish. However, he indignantly
\ntold journalists they could start looking for other candidates
\nfor the position if they wished. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nandar-replaces-schumm-as-national-team-coach-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}