Games soccer qualifiers will start on October 5
Games soccer qualifiers will start on October 5
JAKARTA (JP): The start of the 19th SEA Games soccer
qualifying round has been moved up a day, the Indonesian Soccer
Association announced Wednesday.
The qualifying matches will start on Oct. 5 instead of Oct. 6,
and in Senayan Main Stadium instead of Kunningan stadium because
the Asian Football Confederation has rejected the Kunningan
stadium.
The association's secretary-general, Nugraha Besoes, said the
schedule was changed because Senayan main stadium was booked on
Oct. 10, and because the qualifying match between Indonesia and
Malaysia was arranged for Oct. 9.
"On Oct. 10, the main stadium will be used to stage the final
general rehearsal for the opening ceremony and to install all the
equipment for the ceremony," he said.
The confederation inspected the Kuningan stadium and decided
the venue was inappropriate for an international competition.
It said the stadium's surface was not good enough and there
were not enough spectator seats.
"The match will be free of charge for spectators and we
believe that the qualifying between Indonesia and Malaysia will
attract a full house," Nugraha said during a dinner with the
National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.
Nugraha said that in view of the confederation's decision, the
soccer organizers had considered using either Siliwangi stadium
in Bandung, or Tambaksari stadium in Surabaya.
"But Siliwangi's grass surface is in very bad condition, and
Surabaya is too far from the capital. So we have to stage the
qualifying matches in Senayan main stadium," he said.
On Oct. 5, Indonesia will meet Laos in Group B while on Oct.
7, Indonesia will challenge Vietnam. Indonesia will meet the
Philippines on Oct. 12.
None of the matches scheduled at Lebak Bulus stadium, South
Jakarta, will be changed.
Nugraha said the confederation had approved the schedule
change and the organizers have informed all participating
countries, who will arrive here on Oct. 3.
Teamwork
Wismoyo urged all players to maintain good teamwork during the
match to win the gold medal targeted by the council.
"If you can't maintain your teamwork, don't expect to win the
gold. You have been selected from among Indonesia's best soccer
players," he said.
"You have to prove that you can win the gold."
Separately, coach Henk Wullems said the schedule change would
not affect the team's preparations.
"The training program will continue as usual and all players
are concentrating on winning the gold medal at the SEA Games," he
said.
Antara reported that the soccer team has been training in
Rawamangun since Monday. It will continue training there until
the biennial event starts on Oct. 11. The Games will end on Oct.
19.
On Sunday, the national team will have their final tryout in a
match against the Indonesian League's foreign players team in
Medan, North Sumatra. (yan)
Table: SEA Games qualifying soccer schedule
-----------------------------------------------------------
Date Group Match Venue Kick-off
-----------------------------------------------------------
5/10 B Laos-Indonesia Senayan 16.00
B Vietnam-Malaysia Senayan 18.15
6/10 A Thailand-Myanmar Lebak Bulus 16.00
A Brunei-Cambodia Lebak Bulus 18.15
7/10 B Philippines-Malaysia Senayan 16.00
B Indonesia-Vietnam Senayan 18.15
8/10 A Brunei-Thailand Lebak Bulus 16.00
A Singapore-Myanmar Lebak Bulus 18.15
9/10 B Malaysia-Indonesia Senayan 16.00
B Laos-Philippines Senayan 18.15
10/10 A Cambodia-Singapore Lebak Bulus 16.00
A Myanmar-Brunei Lebak Bulus 18.15
12/10 B Vietnam-Laos Senayan 16.00
B Indonesia-Philippines Senayan 18.15
A Singapore-Brunei Lebak Bulus 16.00
A Thailand-Cambodia Lebak Bulus 18.15
14/10 B Philippines-Vietnam Senayan 16.00
B Malaysia-Laos Senayan 18.15
A Myanmar-Cambodia Lebak Bulus 16.00
A Singapore-Thailand Lebak Bulus 18.15