Indonesia aims to defeat Myanmar in Tiger Cup

Indonesia aims to defeat Myanmar in Tiger Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian soccer team aims to reach the final
four of the Tiger Cup by defeating Myanmar in the last Group A
round-robin match on Sunday.

Indonesia and Myanmar share three points each after one win
and one loss but Myanmar is ahead in goal differences. A draw is
enough for Myanmar to accompany host Thailand in the last four.

Coach Nandar Iskandar said: "We have to win. We will play
offensively. It's likely that Myanmar will play defensively to
tie, but we will try to figure out a way to score. Maybe we can
do it by creating a scrimmage."

Nandar will field duo strikers Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and
junior Gendut Doni Christiawan. He will also field goalkeeper I
Komang Putra despite his failure to secure the net from Thai's
bombardment on Friday.

In defense, Nandar will put Eko Purjianto and Nuralim as
stoppers and either Jet Donald Laala or Sugiantoro as libero. In
midfield, Bima Sakti will serve as playmaker with Uston Nawawi
and Imran Nahumarury ahead while Ismet Sofyan and Budiman will
operate at the wings.

"We're looking for more attackers. With this scheme, I think
Imran is fit for the job," he told a teleconference which was
held in cooperation with Indosat international call operator.

However, Nandar complained that some of his players, including
goalie Hendro Kartiko, Bima, Sugiantoro and Seto were injured
after collisions with Thai players.

Nandar said the 1-4 loss to Thailand on Friday had hurt him
and raised questions on the overall team performance.

"The 1-4 defeat is a shot to my head. The result is woeful.
Judged on our preparation, we should not have lost so badly. I
even predicted that our players would match the Thais in the
earlier minutes, but things changed after the Thais scored the
first goal."

Nandar said Jet was homesick for his family in East Kalimantan
and did not perform well. He also said that he was almost fed up
with striker Miro Baldo Bento, an East Timorese playing for PSM
Makassar.

Bento was hastily added to the Tiger Cup team lineup, along
with teammates Budiman and Suwandi HS. Bento's inclusion sparked
controversy as he earlier said that he would rather play in his
country than in Indonesia.

Bento, a 1998 Tiger Cup veteran, is scoreless in two matches.
While Suwandi was blamed for his failure in marking Thai players
which allow them to earn two goals.

"When we discuss the Tiger Cup lineup after we complete our
Asian Cup campaign, I want the three players to be well prepared
for the upcoming event. But I see here that only two of them,
Suwandi and Budiman, who are ready for a match."

"While Bento is below form and lacks discipline." he said.

He said that all his players had failed to execute his
instructions and strategy in this year's campaign, but he
insisted that it was not caused by the short preparation.

"I keep asking myself whether the players are tired or getting
bored with the program, or is there some other reason which is
out of my reach. What happened to this team?" (ivy)