Soccer coach seeks justice for all<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sacked-coach Nandar Iskandar is seeking for
\njustice and asking help from the Soccer Association of Indonesia
\n(PSSI) chairman, Agum Gumelar, over his dispute with other soccer
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
Nandar met Agum at the latter's residence on Wednesday morning
\nto report his results with the national team, which is still in
\nBangkok for the Tiger Cup's semifinal match against Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Nandar was sacked by PSSI official in charge of athletes
\ndevelopment Nurdin Halid and national team director Muhammad Zein
\nlast week.<\/p>\n
\"I told him that I was sacked in Bangkok during the Southeast
\nAsian regional tournament instead of in Jakarta. The incident has
\ntarnished my image.\"<\/p>\n
\"I agree with Pak Agum that being discharged is one of the
\nrisks of being a coach. But I can't accept it as they did it
\narbitrarily and in a deceitful manner,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
Nandar said Agum had expressed concern over the incident. He
\nalso said that Agum would wait for an explanation from both
\nNurdin and Zein before making his decision.<\/p>\n
\"I asked him to promise to settle this matter but it will take
\na long time before he can decide. Pak Agum said he must wait to
\nhear the whole story from the other officials.\"<\/p>\n
He also said Agum agreed to pay his salary until his contract
\nfinished in December. But it is unclear whether Nandar will coach
\nthe national team until the end of his tenure.<\/p>\n
Nandar said the dispute began when Zein told him that the
\nplayers had a burden on their minds which later on culminated in
\nthe team's poor performance against Thailand.<\/p>\n
Indonesia nearly lost its semifinals berth after losing 1-4 to
\nthe host team last Friday.<\/p>\n
\"On Saturday morning, Zein came to me and said that we must do
\nsomething to smoothen the team's way to the semis. Zein said that
\nthe players do not like me or Zein, but that they really hate one
\nof us. But he did not mention who. He suggested that he will
\ncreate a new spirit in the team by appointing my assistant,
\nDananjaya, to lead the daily training.\"<\/p>\n
\"He also asked me to tell the players that I felt sick so I
\nhad to miss the training session. I did as he said with the hope
\nthat the move would help lift their motivation.\"<\/p>\n
Nandar said that on Sunday, he was banned from meeting with
\nplayers and attending the decisive match, where the team regained
\nits composure to thrash Myanmar 5-0.<\/p>\n
\"Zein asked me to stay in the hotel on Sunday. He said that I
\nwas not helpful to the team's performance. He then asked me to
\ntake a break until the Tiger Cup is over. I told him I won't
\naccept this treatment and I decided to return to Jakarta.\"<\/p>\n
Nandar said the plan to discharge him had been made after
\nIndonesia's defeat with Thailand. He also said that Nurdin had
\nlearned of the plan but did not take any action.<\/p>\n
He believed that some players were not involved in the plan.<\/p>\n
\"I asked senior players like Nuralim, Aji Santoso, Seto
\nNurdiantoro, Budiman and Imran Nahumarury and they said that they
\nhad no intention of sending me out of the team.\" (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soccer-coach-seeks-justice-for-all-1447893297",
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