Former coach worries about new beach volleyball pairing
Former coach worries about new beach volleyball pairing
JAKARTA (JP): A former national coach warned the Indonesian
Volleyball Association on Tuesday the new beach volleyball
pairing of Agus Salim and Iwan Sumoyo might not work well
together because they share the same playing style.
Dennis Taroreh, who trained the national beach volleyball team
for the Asian Games last December, said both men were blockers
and lacked defensive instincts.
"In beach volleyball, 80 percent of the game is defending.
Each team must have both a good blocker and defender. I'm afraid
it's difficult for Agus and Iwan to team up," said Dennis, who is
also a former national indoor volleyball team captain.
The association's deputy chief of athletes development
affairs, Suharsono, said earlier the decision to team the two
Asian Games medalists was made because of their height advantage.
Agus partnered Irilkhun Shofanna at the Games to win the
silver, while Iwan and old teammate Anjas Asmara took the bronze.
The new team of Agus and Iwan is expected to qualify for the
2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
To qualify for the Olympics, a team must have to win a berth
in the main draw in at least eight of 13 legs of the world series
circuit. The circuit will start in Russia in June. Only the
world's top 24 teams will compete in Sydney.
Dennis said the pairing also faced a communication problem.
"As their former coach, I find Iwan is a bit difficult to
mingle with his teammates. It takes him a longer time than other
athletes to do that," he said.
Dennis was optimistic, however, that with four months to go
before their first international outing at the Asian Beach
Volleyball Championships in Pattaya and Thrang, Thailand, the
pair could form a solid partnership.
"They just need to improve their defense and psychological
counsel to solve their communication problems," he said.
Along with the duo, Indonesia is grooming Irilkhun and new
recruit I Made Sumaryatna as the country's second team. They will
also be sent to the Asian Championships, but not to Olympic
qualifying tournaments. (yan)