Persebaya players join Games training<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More Persebaya players, who recently starred in
\nthe national soccer league, have joined their teammates in the
\nSEA Games centralized soccer training program.<\/p>\n
Anang Ma'ruf arrived in Jakarta yesterday to join fellow
\nplayers Uston Nawawi, Aji Santoso and Chairil Anwar, who arrived
\nlast week from Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Only Eri Irianto and Sugiantoro have yet to join the SEA Games
\ntraining program.<\/p>\n
Anang shrugged off yesterday allegations that he and some of
\nthe other Persebaya players had refused to join the centralized
\ntraining program.<\/p>\n
\"It's only a misunderstanding between us and the soccer
\nofficials about our plans for the SEA Games,\" said Anang, as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
A few days after their national soccer league victory,
\nPersebaya's players were unsure whether they would take part in
\nthe ASEAN Champions Cup, or join the SEA Games team training.<\/p>\n
Persebaya was set to play South Korean team Hyundai this month
\nin the qualifying round of the Champions Cup, while Bandung Raya
\nwas to meet the winner of the qualifying round between Malaysia's
\nTelekom and Thailand's Air Force in the Winners cup.<\/p>\n
The All Indonesia Football Federation told Persebaya and
\nBandung Raya to abandon their plans for the two championships
\nbecause it needed their key players to train for the fast
\napproaching SEA Games.<\/p>\n
The federation's coach Henk Wullens said he had called 32
\nfootballers to start training for the biennial event.<\/p>\n
\"Only 20 players will make the final team,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another coach, Tumpak Sihite, said the SEA Games soccer team
\nstill needed to improve its teamwork.<\/p>\n
\"Young players like Uston and Anang still need to coordinate
\nbetter with the senior players,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The SEA Games men's soccer competition starts two days before
\nthe official opening of the Games.<\/p>\n
Countries participating in the Games are divided into two
\ngroups. Group A comprises Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and
\nSingapore. Group B comprises Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos
\nand the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Rowing<\/p>\n
Indonesian Rowing Association secretary-general Budiman
\nSetiawan said that Lasmin -- the country's leading male rower --
\nwould compete in the world rowing championships in Aguibellete,
\nFrance.<\/p>\n
The association is pinning its hopes on Lasmin in the SEA
\nGames, the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok and the 2000 Olympic Games
\nin Sydney.<\/p>\n
The world rowing championships will start on Aug. 28 and
\nfinish on Sept. 8.<\/p>\n
The association last week named 104 rowers for the SEA Games
\nteam.<\/p>\n
The team wants to win at least 23 gold medals in the 31 rowing
\nevents at the Games.<\/p>\n
The team comprises 20 male rowers, 12 female rowers, 17 male
\ncanoeists, six female canoeists, 27 male traditional boat racers
\nand 22 female traditional boat racers.<\/p>\n
Rowing coach Dede Rohmat said the team was about to begin
\nfinal preparations for athletes' specialization training based on
\nthe SEA games rowing events. (03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/persebaya-players-join-games-training-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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