PSSI expels Kurniawan, Halim from national team<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Top striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and goalie M.
\nHalim were eliminated from the national team competing in the
\nAsia Cup, coach Nandar Iskandar announced on Friday.<\/p>\n
Nandar said that Kurniawan, who was expelled from the 1999
\nSoutheast Asian (SEA) Games team after testing positive for
\namphetamines, could not boost his performance level during the
\nseveral tryouts and he was not productive in scoring goals.<\/p>\n
The team is scheduled to compete in the qualifying round of
\nthe cup in Hong Kong on Oct. 24. They will leave for the
\ntournament on Oct. 21.<\/p>\n
The 18 players left on the team are goalies Hendro Kartiko and
\nSahari Gultom, defenders Nuralim, Eko Purjianto, Sugiantoro, I
\nMade Pasek, Aji Santoso, Anang Ma'ruf, Ismet Sofyan, midfielders
\nBima Sakti, Alexander Saununu, Ali Sunan, Haryanto Prasetyo,
\nImron Nahumahuri, Uston Nawawi and strikers Rocky Puttiray,
\nWidodo C. Putro, Bambang Pamungkas.<\/p>\n
He said he would now rely on Rocky as the spearhead.<\/p>\n
\"Rocky is now in his best form before we leave for Hong Kong.
\nHe is ready to pair with Widodo or Bambang,\" he told Antara.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is in Group 7 along with Hong Kong and Cambodia. The
\nthree countries will fight for a berth to the final round in
\nLebanon in 2000.<\/p>\n
Kurniawan, who used to be the country's best striker, could
\nnot strengthen his performance level even though he was given a
\nchance by the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman,
\nAgum Gumelar, to join the national team after he failed to defend
\nthe country in the Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.<\/p>\n
The test also found that Kurniawan was addicted to
\namphetamines, a statement which was later denied by Kurniawan.<\/p>\n
A source at the National Sports Council (KONI), who was also
\ninvolved in testing Kurniawan for drugs in July, said the
\n23-year-old player should seek treatment to help his addiction.<\/p>\n
\"I think he is now trying to stop taking drugs. He should get
\ntherapy, because he still has a good physical form and he should
\nseek a total recovery. But he should be trained with a special
\ncoach and supervised by a doctor,\" the source, who refused to be
\nnamed, said on Friday.(ivy)<\/p>",
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