Former top goalie dies from cancer

JAKARTA (JP): Former Indonesian Olympic goal keeper Paidjo died at 59 at the Tebet Hospital in South Jakarta from prolonged cancer yesterday.

Paidjo, a native of Malang, East Java, joined the national soccer team for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne as the substitute for number one goalie M. Saelan. The Indonesians, 1954 Asian champions, sprang a surprise when they held the Soviet Union to 0-0 in the Olympic preliminary round.

Raised by the Jakarta-based club Bintang Timur, Paidjo was called up by national Polish coach Tony Poganik for the Olympics. "He was one of the most talented players we ever had," Paidjo's colleague L.H. Tanoto said.

The body of the national goalkeeper will be buried in the Pondok Rangon cemetery, Cibubur, East Jakarta today. (amd)