24 soccer players join SEA Games training
JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) called 24 23-year-old players, two of them from the first and second division, to join its training program on Monday for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur in September.
The two players are first division striker Aliyudin who plays for West Java-based Indocement and goalkeeper Syamsidar from the second division team, Persim of Maros, South Sulawesi.
"So far, we have only been focussing on national players. However, that's not right. Why don't we start giving a chance to players from the first and second division teams," national team coach Benny Dolo told a media briefing on Friday.
"Both players are very special so I have asked them to join the team. Just wait and see."
Benny said the talentscouting group from PSSI had earlier nominated 33 players, including 12 players who had just concluded a 2002 World Cup qualifying match.
All 24 players will undergo further selection to pick 20 members of the country's core team for the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 Games.
"At least we must win the silver medal at the Games. It's a new challenge for me. I will always set an ambitious target even though I may only have one-day for preparation. Now we have quite a long time to prepare," he said. Indonesia last won a gold medal for soccer in 1991 at the Manila Games.
The team will undergo training for about 93 days as not all players will be able to fully attend the program.
"Most players still have to play for their clubs in the Bank Mandiri soccer league or in first and second division matches," Benny said.
"We have a total of 48 training sessions and 15 friendlies."
Benny assured that he would take full responsibility if the team failed to fulfill its target.
"I will be fully responsible but I'll give a good reason for failure. I'll never find a scapegoat. Whether I will resign if I fail is not your problem," said Benny, who has been hired by PSSI until 2002.
Team manager Irawadi D. Hanafi, who also attend the briefing on Friday, said the national team would fly to Perth, West Australia, for a series of friendlies with the state's U-19 team, U-23 team and premier league club from July 16 to July 24.
"The West Australia soccer association welcomed our request. Their U-19 team has offered to play with us after they return from training in France next month," he said.
The team will also compete in the Ho Chi Minh Cup soccer tournament in Vietnam from Aug. 10 to Aug. 18.
Irawadi said he was still waiting for confirmation from Thailand as to whether they will send their national team to Jakarta for a warmup session later in August.
The other players are: goalkeepers Ahmad Kurniawan, Wawan Darmawan, Yendry Pitoy; defenders Erol FX Iba, Isnan Ali, Sunar Sulaeman, Warsidi, Ismed Sofyan, Zulfadli, Supriono, Dulah Baa; midfielders Firman Utina, Firman Usman, Encang Rohiman, Elie Aiboi, Juanda, Andri Budianto, Maman, Ponario Astaman; strikers Purwanto, Bambang Pamungkas and Budi Sudarsono. (ivy)