FAM invites Kurniawan, Bima Sakti to play against MU
FAM invites Kurniawan, Bima Sakti to play against MU
JAKARTA (JP): PSM Makassar striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and
midfielder Bima Sakti will get a big boost this month as they are
being asked by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to join
the neighboring country's team against English champion
Manchester United in the club's Asia Tour in Kuala Lumpur.
"FAM secretary general Dato Dell Akbar has personally asked me
to invite Kurniawan and Bima Sakti to join Malaysia's national
team A which will challenge United in a friendly on July 21 in
Kuala Lumpur," Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) secretary-
general Tri Goestoro told a media briefing on Thursday.
United is also scheduled to face the Singapore national team
at the National Stadium in Singapore on July 24 and the Thai
national team at Rajamangala stadium in Bangkok on July 28. None
of the teams has named its players.
PSSI also asked the Bank Mandiri national league champion to
represent the country at the Ho Chi Minh Cup at Ho Chi Minh City
in Vietnam from Aug. 10 to Aug. 18, replacing Indonesia's
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games team.
The national team canceled its campaign in Vietnam due to the
close schedule and fear of injuries ahead of the biennial event.
The Games soccer qualification will start on Sept. 1 while the
Games will be officially opened on Sept. 8.
Tri said PSM could borrow players from other main division
teams before leaving for Vietnam.
"We had two options before naming the substitute for the Cup.
First, we had thought of sending the national squad, the same
line-up as for the 2002 World Cup qualification, but we're
worried about lacking enough preparation.
"All players have to play in their clubs until the national
league's second qualification has ended on Aug. 5. It takes more
time to gather the players in a training camp.
"The second choice is to set up a new team but it will waste
time, as we must find a new coach, new manager and other
officials. We're wondering if they can form a solid team in a
short training period." Tri explained.
PSSI official in charge of athletes' development Ismet D.
Tahir said that PSM's patron Nurdin Halid had indicated a welcome
to PSSI's offer.
"We have asked PSM to list players from outside the club to
perform in Vietnam," he said, adding that PSM would also appoint
the coach and the manager.
The national team will leave for a series of friendlies in
Perth, West Australia, on Sunday. As a consequence, PSSI has to
reschedule the national league.
The last qualifying round in the league's western division
will end on Aug. 5 instead of July 22, while the last eastern
division matches on Aug. 1 will be played on Aug. 2.
In an unrelated development, PSSI spokesman Eddi Elison
announced that East Kalimantan-based Putra Samarinda (Pusam)
substitute Irlendi was banned from playing in any soccer
tournament for one year and fined Rp 1 million (US$88).
Irlendi was caught fighting with Alfanus Asa of Persma Manado,
North Sulawesi, when both teams met on June 10 in Manado, Eddi
quoted from a report by match commissioner Ismail Tola.
"Pusam has also protested to host Persma over unfair treatment
but we refused their report because we found no supporting
evidence," he said. (ivy)