PSSI turns to Kolev for national coach<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After hopes of hiring local coach Mundari Karya look set to be
\ncollapsing, the national soccer governing body, PSSI, has now
\nturned its attention to another foreigner to replace German
\nBernhard Schumm as the U-20 team coach.<\/p>\n
Irawadi, a PSSI official, said that they were going after Ivan
\nKolev of Bulgaria to take over from Schumm, whose coaching
\ncontract was abruptly terminated by the PSSI at the weekend after
\nthe team's failure in the Southeast Asian Soccer Championship in
\nBangkok last month.<\/p>\n
"We have written to Kolev and the decision will be made this
\nweek," Irawadi, who was himself the team manager during the
\nBangkok trip, told reporters here on Monday.<\/p>\n
Kolev is not new to Indonesian soccer, having been with
\nJakarta-based Persija in 2000. He led the club to the semifinals.<\/p>\n
"It is Persija that has recommended us to look into a possible
\npartnership with Kolev because he is considered to have done a
\ngood job with the club," Irawadi said. Kolev led Persija to the
\nsemifinals in the 2002 season.<\/p>\n
The PSSI looks set to abandon its efforts to recruit Mundari
\nKarya, an assistant Persija coach, because the 2002 league
\nchampion has refused to release him.<\/p>\n
"They say Mundari is needed for their campaign to defend the
\nleague title. And we can understand their reasoning. We may want
\nMundari, but we can do nothing if Persija wants to keep him,"
\nIrawadi said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the national coaching trio, who were contracted to
\nsee out the job of preparing a senior team only this week,
\nannounced 18 players for a friendly match against Hyundai Mipo
\nDockyard.<\/p>\n
The trio are manager Andi Darussalam Tabusalla, head coach
\nSuimin Dihardja and assistant Syamsudin Umar. They have been
\nhired only on a one-match term basis and will have completed
\ntheir assignment after the Hyundai game.<\/p>\n
The game is scheduled for the Bung Karno Stadium here on
\nSunday. Hyundai was the 2001 runner-up in the Korean professional
\nsoccer league.<\/p>\n
The list, which consists of two goalkeepers, seven defenders,
\nfive midfielders and four strikers, has been drawn from ten of
\nthe 22 clubs in the league with PSPS of Pekanbaru making up the
\nlargest contingent in the squad.<\/p>\n
Indonesian players selected for the Hyundai match --
\nGoalkeepers: Hendro Kartiko (PSPS), Jendri Pitoy (Persikota);
\nDefenders: Aples Tecuari (Pelita Krakatau Steel), Slamet Riyadi
\n(PSPS), Eko Pujianto (PSPS), Joko Puspito (Persija), Ismet Sofyan
\n(Persijatim), Anang Ma'ruf (Persija), Mat Halil (Persebaya);
\nMidfielders: Bima Sakti (PSPS), Uston Nawawi (Persebaya), Edward
\nIvak Dalam (Persipura), Edu Juanda (PSPS) Eli Eboy (Semen
\nPadang); Strikers: Bambang Pamungkas (Persija), Rocky Putiray
\n(PSM), Kurniawan Dwi Julianto (PSPS), Ilham Jayakusuma (Persita).<\/p>",
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