Coach looking to mend defense ahead of Lebanon tie

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian under-23 players will gather here on Friday for a short training workout ahead of an away soccer match in Lebanon, with the coach seeking to shore up the defense.

"Given the previous matches, we were a bit disappointed with how the players marshaled their defensive zone. I want to concentrate on how to improve this area," coach Mundari Karya told The Jakarta Post here on Thursday.

But Mundari rejected an assumption that they would be defensive in the Lebanon game, saying that a counterattack would always be pursued during the game.

"I just want to alert the players about their defense. We can't afford to slip up again," he said.

Indonesia escaped to a narrow 1-0 win over Lebanon here early this month in the first leg of the second round of the pre- Olympic game.

However, the team failed to display solid teamwork between lines with Hamka Hamsah, Hary Saputra and Hermawan at the back, porous in defending against the attack.

The frailty was clearly exposed in the following match, when the team hosted already-qualified Malaysia in a friendly game last week, with the host stumbling to a 4-0 humiliation.

Malaysia has been awarded a place in the final round of the Asian qualification, following the refusal of Turkmenistan to travel to Kuala Lumpur.

Indonesia still has hurdles to clear as it will try to tackle Lebanon in the second-leg tie in Beirut on June 7.

Mundari said he was optimistic about a positive result and hoped the players would maintain their confidence.

All of the 21 players, except for Samsidar, are expected to turn up at the training ground inside the Bung Karno sports compound on Friday.

Samsidar, who plays as second goalkeeper to Yandri Christian Pitoy, may not be able to participate before Saturday because he lives so far away in Ternate Island, North Maluku province.

The team, under manager Irawadi D. Hanafi, is scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia on May 28 to participate in a week-long camp, during which they are to play second-layer team, Saudi champions Al-Ahli.

"We have already received confirmation from Al-Ahli about their availability for the warmup game. The camp is important for the players to adapt to the local weather," said Mundari, who is assisted by Bambang Nurdiansyah in coaching the team.