PSSI will select the best from East, West<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A national soccer team with players from the
\nIndonesian league's West and East divisions will be prepared for
\nthe incoming South East Asian (SEA) Games.<\/p>\n
\"We will form two teams. One will be a group of the best
\nbooters from the West Division; the other filtered from the East
\nDivision,\" Hendro Sumaryo, secretary of the National Soccer
\nCommittee told reporters yesterday. Hendro met with top officials
\nfrom the National Sports Council (KONI).<\/p>\n
Representing the All Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI),
\nHendro explained the progress of PSSI and their preparations for
\nthe Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from Dec. 9 to 17.<\/p>\n
The two teams will then be sent abroad for several tryouts, he
\nsaid, probably to take part in various soccer competitions in
\nAustralia between May and July.<\/p>\n
Based on their performances during the try-outs, PSSI will
\nthen choose a nucleus team from the two groups. The names of
\nthose included on the main team will be announced by the end of
\nJuly, Hendro said.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 1, four months before the kick-off of the Games, the
\nmain squad is scheduled to start its centralized training
\nprograms, Hendro said.<\/p>\n
Four months is enough for intensive grooming at home.
\nMoreover, Hendro predicted, they can get the most out of possible
\nscrimmages with the renowned Italian club, AC Milan, and the
\nEnglish club, Aston Villa.<\/p>\n
Michael Linder of Football International has offered Indonesia
\nvisits by the two giant European clubs. Another party, Edi
\nSofyan, has also offered PSSI visits from AC Milan and another
\nItalian club, Genoa.<\/p>\n
\"We welcome them if they want to come,\" said Hendro, \"But if
\nwe have to pay them US$150,000 for the visits, I think we'll have
\nto think it over.\"<\/p>\n
If necessary, PSSI will include members of the younger
\nnational team, known popularly as Primavera. The junior pre-
\nOlympic team has been groomed in Italy for Olympic's group C
\nqualifying round for almost two years now, he said.<\/p>\n
Hendro added that PSSI's target for Primavera this year is to
\npass pre-Olympic selection and for the main team to grab the gold
\nat the December SEA Games.<\/p>\n
Hendro said PSSI has appointed Italian coach Romano Matte of
\nSampdoria as technical advisor and Andi Teguh as coach for the
\nnational team.<\/p>\n
In the Singapore SEA Games in 1993, the Indonesian soccer team
\nfell 3-1 to Singapore, the bronze medalist. This was a sharp
\ncontrast to the gold medal won by the national team at the 1991
\nSEA Games in the Philippines, where Indonesia beat Thailand 4-3.<\/p>\n
Fifty Indonesian business tycoons have committed financing the
\npreparations as well as the sending of the Indonesian squad to
\nthe Games according to KONI treasurer Setya Novanto. To
\nparticipate in the Games, KONI estimated the need for funds
\ntotaling around Rp 15 billion. (arf)<\/p>",
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