Benny skips second Davis Cup clash

Benny skips second Davis Cup clash

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's number one Benny Wijaya will, for
the second time, fail to play for Indonesia in a Davis Cup play-
off against Chinese Taipei, slated for March 31 to April 2.

"His Taiwanese club has formally notified us about his tight
playing schedules in Asia and Europe. Hence, he will not be
available to strengthen Indonesia's Davis Cup team," Zainal
Abidin, secretary general of the Indonesian Tennis Association
(Pelti), said.

Non-playing captain and coach Wailan Walalangi has not decide
a substitution for Benny yet, Zainal added. Asian Games men's
doubles bronze medalist Teddy Tanjung won the fourth place in the
national team for the Davis Cup matches against South Korea.
Experienced Suwandi, Bonit Wiryawan and Donny Susetyo had earlier
filled the line-up.

Zainal was talking to reporters at a breaking of the fast
dinner held by the new executives of the National Sports Council
(KONI) and national athletes on Tuesday. The gathering also
served as a farewell party for KONI former top officials.

Benny, a Davis Cup player since 1990, signed a three year deal
worth US$250,000 with a Taiwanese club last year.

He was excluded from the Davis Cup qualifying round match
against South Korea in Seoul early last month, when Indonesia
suffered a 0-5 trouncing. Benny had said earlier he would miss
the South Korean tour for a training program in Spain.

But Pelti chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja turned down Benny's
reason, saying that Benny did not deserve being included in the
national team for "not showing commitment to national interest."

Coach Wailan Walalangi threw his weight behind Sarwono. "Benny
thinks about his club first. We have no doubts about dropping him
from the team," he said.

However, for the incoming play-off Zainal said that Pelti had
offered Benny to strengthen Indonesia's Davis Cup team which
struggles to avoid a demotion to the second group.

"Benny is an Indonesian player. That's why Pelti decided to
give him the chance. If he cannot answer our call, we, of course,
cannot force him," Zainal said.

Zainal looked to avoid discussions on Benny's loyalty to the
country. Zainal said that nationalism should not be measured only
by the player's decision to play or not to play for his country.

He expressed his guarded optimism that with or without Benny,
Indonesia would beat Chinese Taipei. "Our performance does not
rely on an individual player," he said. (arf)