Soccer's problems team<\/p>\n
The national soccer team's failure to reach the second round of
\nthe ongoing Asian Cup in China, as promised earlier by team
\nmanager Andi Darussalam Tabusala, has disappointed soccer fans
\nacross the country.<\/p>\n
The hope that our players \"might be inspired by the success of
\nGreece in the Euro 2004, in terms of fighting spirit and
\ndiscipline\", was not realized.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's only win was 2-1 against Qatar in its opening
\nmatch, after which it bowed out 5-0 to host country China and
\nlost to Bahrain 3-1 in the decisive match.<\/p>\n
Even before the championship, the national squad, under
\nBulgarian coach Ivan Kolev, performed poorly by losing all three
\nfriendly games in the past two months.<\/p>\n
Their sole victory against Qatar was a slight improvement, as
\nIndonesia has consistently lost all matches in the Asian Cup of
\n1996 and 2000.<\/p>\n
Of course, it is unfair to compare Indonesia and Brazil, the
\nCopa America champ.<\/p>\n
However, Brazil, known worldwide as a soccer powerhouse, did
\nnot even need to deploy its top stars. Big names such as Ronaldo,
\nRonaldinho, Kaka and Roberto Carlos were absent. Even so, with
\nonly second-stringers, Brazil was able to defeat favorite
\nArgentina in a penalty shoot-out.<\/p>\n
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said the result was what
\nreally mattered, never mind who the players were.<\/p>\n
In fact, the second-lineup team was actually being prepared
\nfor the 2010 World Cup.<\/p>\n
So, what about Indonesia?<\/p>\n
Even before the Asian Cup, Kolev had already complained about
\nthe players' inferiority complex in the face of strong
\ninternational teams. The coach was puzzled at several
\ninternational matches by the players' tendency to give up easily.<\/p>\n
Discipline, teamwork and a fighting spirit are the three
\ncrucial elements missing from our players, although they possess
\nadequate individual skills.<\/p>\n
Match schedules are another problem. Political events --
\nparticularly this year's general elections on Apr. 5, July 5 and
\nSept. 20 -- have forced the Soccer Association of Indonesia
\n(PSSI) to reschedule national league matches and the planned
\nIndonesia Cup, cautioned by the National Police not to stage
\nmatches during election campaigns.<\/p>\n
The PSSI must also pay greater attention in scouting new
\ntalent, cultivating junior players and developing the coaches'
\nskills and knowledge to improve training programs.<\/p>\n
Following the Asian Cup failure, the PSSI has yet to decide
\nwhether it will extend Kolev's contract, which will end in
\nAugust. Kolev himself has hinted that he wants to stay with the
\nteam to face the Tiger Cup in December.<\/p>\n
The presence of Peter Withe of Britain, who previously coached
\nThailand, to \"supervise almost all national teams of different
\nage groups but the league team\" only complicates the issue.<\/p>\n
No official statement has been released by the PSSI, pending a
\ndecision from its chief Nurdin Halid, currently hospitalized amid
\nhis being named a suspect in the illegally imported sugar case.<\/p>\n
His status as a suspect in the case has boosted demands from
\nprovincial chapters of the PSSI for an extraordinary national
\nmeeting to dismiss Nurdin.<\/p>\n
The legal problem indirectly affects PSSI programs, especially
\nnational and international competitions. There is also a
\npossibility that sponsors may cut their support if the case
\nimpinges upon their corporate image.<\/p>\n
Until these problems are addressed properly, soccer fans' hope
\nto see the national squad achieve success will remain just that
\n-- a hope.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soccers-problems-team-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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