26 footballers named for Chiang Mai SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): The All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) announced yesterday the 26-strong soccer team for the Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with teenage star Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto missing from the list.
Secretary-General of PSSI's national team commission Endro Soemardjo told a hearing with the National Sports Council (KONI) yesterday that the SEA Games squad is made up of 22 players from the league clubs, which have just completed the 1994/95 season, plus four members of the national junior team Primavera.
"We will shortlist 22 players at the end of the centralized training session in December," Endro told KONI's training director Moch. Hindarto.
The national team will undergo a training stint in Gresik, East Java, under the tutelage of Italian coach Romano Matte and his assistants, Andi M. Teguh and Harry Tjong, starting Aug. 20. PSSI has also named Agum Gumelar as the team manager.
The four junior booters will join the centralized training program early next month after playing their Olympic Games qualifying round Asia-Oceania Zone away matches in Seoul and Hong Kong.
Endro said that the commission decided to pick teenage Bima Sakti, Aples Tecuari, Eko Pujianto and Kurnia Sandi, but drop 19- year-old striker Kurniawan due to his club commitment. Kurniawan has just extended his contract with Swiss premiership Lucern for another one-year term.
"We have many choices of forwards whose skills are equal," Endro said. Matte's forwarders are comprised of the league's five goal machines, with Peri Sandria of Bandung Raya, Buyung Ismu of Pelita Jaya and Widodo C. Putra of Petrokimia Putra in the hunt for the striker's job.
Peri blasted his way to a record-breaking number of goals with 34 in the recent season, followed by Buyung with 30 and Widodo with 20. Sutiono, whose 21st goal gave Persib Bandung a 1-0 win in Sunday's league championship final, was ignored by the selectors.
League champion Persib put its four players among the 26-man team. They are goalkeeper Anwar Sanusi, defender Yadi Mulyadi, midfielder Yusuf Bachtiar and forwarder Kekey Zakaria.
Try-out matches
Endro said the SEA Games soccer team will play a series of try-out matches against both local and foreign clubs. PSSI has also planned an international friendly match for the SEA Games squad.
"It would be better if PSSI invited a foreign team of a higher standard," Hindarto said.
Indonesia finished fourth in the 1993 SEA Games soccer competition, losing 1-3 in the third-place playoff to host Singapore.
Meanwhile, Persib is facing a daunting Asia Champions' Cup draw against Thailand champion Bangkok Bank in the first round. Persib will fly to Bangkok on Sept. 16 and will host the Thais in Bandung on Sept. 30.
If lady luck smiles on Persib, it will play either Pasay of the Philippines or Tumon of Guam.
In the Winners Cup, Petrokimia will also take on a Thai club, Rajpracha. Petrokimia will visit Rajpracha on Oct. 15 and host the Thais on Oct. 28. (amd)
National team nominees Goalkeeper: Sumardi (Pupuk), Anwar Sanusi (Persib), Kurnia Sandi (Primavera) Defenders: Agung Setiabudi (Arseto), Rochmad (Pupuk), Aji Santoso (Arema), Jaya Hartono (Assyabaab), Sugiantoro (Persebaya), Yudi Kuncahyo (Pupuk Kaltim), Yadi Mulyadi (Persib), Suwandi (Petrokimia), Eko Pujianto and Aples Tecuari (Primavera) Midfielders: Erry Irianto (Petrokimia), Fachri Husaini (Pupuk), Yusuf Bachtiar (Persib), Ansyari Lubis (Pelita), Iskandar Jalil (Mitra), Chairil Anwar (Assyabaab), Ronny Wabia (Persipura) and Bima Sakti (Primavera) Forwards: Widodo C. Putra (Petrokimia), Peri Sandria (Bandung Raya), Kekey Zakaria (Persib), Buyung Ismu (Pelita), Singgih Pitono (Arema)