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