Gusmao to play soccer in West Timor

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: East Timor President Xanana Gusmao will use some of his time during his four-day visit to neighboring Indonesia to play an exhibition soccer game, his favorite game as a youth.

Gusmao, an independence struggler during Indonesia's administration up until 1999, will head an East Timorese team in a friendly match against an East Nusa Tenggara squad at the soccer field in the provincial police headquarters compound.

No date has been set for the match.

Spokesman for the provincial administration Johanis Bastian Kosapilawan said the field was chosen for security reasons.

Security arrangements for the rare match will bar spectators from going onto the field, according to Kosapilawan.

There were no details on the lineup of the Gusmao-led team, while the East Nusa Tenggara administration is selecting players for the friendly.

Gusmao is scheduled to arrive on Friday and will hold talks with government officials and local councillors and will visit the remaining East Timorese refugees in Indonesia. The trip will be used by Gusmao to call on the refugees left to join the repatriation program. -- Antara