Bryaden to coach Indonesia's U-16

JAKARTA (JP): A former member of England's Coventry soccer club, Jims Bryaden, will coach the Indonesian under-16 soccer team for at least three years, the project director of U-16 training at the Soccer Association of Indonesia, Johny Pardede, said on Monday.

Johny was quoted as saying by Antara during a telephone interview from England that he had personally met with Bryaden, who told him he was ready to coach Indonesia's youth at the training center in Medan, North Sumatra.

Johny, who is also the patron of Harimau Tapanuli, the top soccer club in Medan, said he hired the 46-year-old Bryaden because of his technical skills.

However, he refused to state the value of Bryaden's contract. "We have to spend a great deal to secure a high-class item," he said in response to a question about Bryaden's contract.

Two hundred U-16 players have gone through tryouts at TD Pardede soccer field in Medan. They are currently being supervised by Brazilian coach Jairo Matos and Indonesian assistant coach Zein Azhar Harahap.(ivy)