Fafa to join national team for the 18th SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The nation's most seasoned spiker Imam Agus Faisal, better known as Fafa, will make his fifth successive appearance at the Southeast Asian Games in December.

Indonesian Volleyball Association Secretary-General M. Solli confirmed yesterday that Fafa, an employee at the state-owned bank, BNI 46, decided to join the national team for the 18th SEA Games after receiving a green light from his boss.

"BNI has informally agreed to release Fafa for the Games, starting from Oct. 20. We are now waiting for a formal letter from the bank," Solli said.

Solli and national coach Wienarto met the bank's human resources manager on Wednesday, to request time off on Fafa's behalf until the Dec. 9 to Dec. 17 Games are over. The National Sports Council also sent a letter to the bank for the same purpose on Tuesday.

Fafa, who led his team to a golden hat trick in the last three SEA Games, had refused a call-up from the association due to his job commitment.

"His return to the team will encourage our bid to win a third gold medal in a row," Solli beamed. The association needs Fafa to boost his team's morale after fellow veteran Pascal Wilmar withdrew from the team.

Defending champion Indonesia has picked seven newcomers to back up its five regular spikers, who will include Fafa.

Solli said that Wienarto had changed his mind about sidelining Fafa even though he had missed the centralized training program for the past three months.

"We believe that such an experienced spiker as Fafa will quickly regain his form during the next one-and-a-half month," Solli said.

Fafa is scheduled to join a series of try-outs throughout Java, starting today.

Solli, however, changed his tone when asked about the national women's team's gold medal winning chances. "The host team looks to have a better chance," Solli admitted. The Thai women are now ranked fifth in Asia behind China, South Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei.

"The Thai manager joked that he would allow us to take the men's gold when we met recently, but he asked for the women's crown," Solli said. Thailand's female spikers, like the Indonesian men, have been unbeaten since 1989. (amd)