Gusmao to play soccer in West Timor

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