Asian soccer matches will not be delayed
Asian soccer matches will not be delayed
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia have made it clear that they would not entertain India's request to delay their Asian Soccer Championship Zone Four matches from early March to early April.
"We have notified the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about our stance and the AFC has in turn informed India about our decision," Nugraha Besoes, secretary-general of the All-Indonesia Football Federation (PSSI) told reporters yesterday.
Indonesia is scheduled to take on Malaysia on March 2 and to face India on March 4 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The biennial championship is divided into eight zones. Indonesia, Malaysia and India are grouped under Zone Four. Winners of the eight zones, defending champion Kazakhstan and host United Arab Emirates will lock horns in the final rounds whose date is yet to be fixed sometime in October and November.
Nugraha said he was not clear about why India should want to suspend the matches. "Probably because they need more time to prepare themselves after taking part in the South Asia Federation Games a few months ago," he said.
Nugraha said he was informed yesterday by the AFC that the AFC has told India that Indonesia was unable to accommodate India's request because such delay would play havoc with the home competition schedules.
Nugraha added that the Football Association of Malaysia had asked PSSI's stance on the matter and had then decided to stick to the existing schedule.
Indonesia's national team is scheduled to play Mastrans Bandung Raya, runner-up of last season's Indonesian League, on Feb. 14 and to go to Thailand on Feb. 15 for tryouts against Bangkok Bank on Feb. 18 and against Thailand's senior national team on Feb. 23.
After the tryouts, the national team is scheduled to go directly to Kuala Lumpur, Nugraha said. He added that PSSI is yet to decide who shall become the head coach of the national team. PSSI has two head coaches, Danurwindo and Andi Teguh. Danurwindo coached the Italian-trained junior national team, which has now been dissolved. Andi Teguh coached the national team for the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which has been dissolved as well. Both teams' performances were marginal. (arf)
Line-up of the national team for the Asian championship Zone Four matches (their clubs are in the brackets): Goalkeepers: Kurnia Sandy (Pelita Jaya), Sumardi (Pupuk Kaltim) Backs: Jaya Hartono (Asyaabab Salim Grup), Anang Ma'ruf (former pre-Olympic national team member), Nandang Kurnaedi (Persib), Robby Darwis (Persib), Sugiantoro (Persebaya), Aples Tecuari (Pelita Jaya) Midfielders: Yeyen Tumena (Pupuk Samarinda), Nuralim (Mastrans Bandung Raya), Erry Irianto (Petro Kimia Putra), Chairul Anwar (Asyaabab Salim Grup), Fachri Husaini (Pupuk Kaltim), Anshari Lubis (Pelita Jaya) Forwards: Widodo C. Putra (Petro Kimia Putra), Perry Sandria (Mastrans Bandung Raya), Rocky Putiray (Arseto Solo), Indrianto Setio (former pre-Olympic national team member).