Games soccer players 'can't play for clubs'

JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said yesterday that he did not want soccer players playing for their clubs in international matches when they should be training for the 19th SEA Games here in October.

"We only have 50 days left and our soccer team has yet to be announced. I ask everybody not to ruin the soccer training for any reason," Wismoyo, who was with national training director Djoko Pramono, told the press.

"Don't confuse us, and don't confuse the team's coach because then he may not be able to make the right decision," he said.

Players who starred in the national soccer league final - Persebaya's Uston Nawawi, Anang Ma'ruf, Aji Santoso, Chairil Anwar, Eri Irianto and Sugianto, and Bandung Raya's Peri Sandria, Nuralim, Sudirman and Surya Lesmana - are in the national squad.

Persebaya is due to play South Korea's Hyundai here on Aug. 23 in the Champions Cup and in South Korea on Sept. 3.

Bandung Raya has been banned from playing the winner of a match between Telekom Malaysia and Thailand's Air Force in the Winners Cup. PSM Ujungpandang will play instead.

Wismoyo said: "I don't expect the 50 days left to be disrupted by soccer problems. We haven't a solid team yet."

He said Indonesia must have a solid team with good teamwork for the Games, which start on Oct. 11 and end on Oct. 19. Soccer starts on Oct. 6.

"We haven't even got a national team. We're still working on it. Please don't disrupt it," Wismoyo said.

"Soccer events in the Games mean a lot to our people. We want to retain our overall title, which was taken away by Thailand in 1995. I just want to make the nation happy," he said.

Indonesia's soccer team failed to win the medal at the last Games in Thailand.

The country finished second overall with 77 golds, 67 silvers and 77 bronzes. Thailand led with 157 golds, 98 silvers and 91 bronzes.

Wismoyo said he did not agree with players being asked to play for their clubs in the Indonesian League while they were training for the Games.

"But the Indonesian Soccer Association told me that the matches were meant to fill the players' off season time. They promised that all players would join the national squad on Aug. 1," he said.

"I tolerated the suggestion, but now I demand that the association sets up a solid team for the Games," he said. (yan)