Indonesia faces Malaysia in friendly match

Indonesia faces Malaysia in friendly match

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian soccer team will face Malaysia on Wednesday in a
friendly ahead of its World Cup qualifying match against
Turkmenistan in the Asia Group 8 tournament.

The 18-play squad, left for Malaysia on Tuesday. The
Turkmenistan match is scheduled for March 31.

The warm-up against Malaysia will be held on Wednesday night
at the Johor Baru Stadium, Johor Baru, team assistant manager
Mafirion said.

The team, under Bulgarian coach Ivan Kolev Venkov, is also
scheduled to play top Thai club Bec Tero Sassana either on March
24 or 25, before it heads to Turkmenistan.

If Malaysia fielded its top players, the game would be a good
preparation for Indonesia, Mafirion said on Tuesday.

Kolev initially called up a squad of 24 players for the trip
but six were later dropped -- five for indiscipline during
training. They were goalkeeper Mukti Ali Radja, defender Djet
Donal La'ala of Persija Jakarta, striker Kurniawan Dwi Julianto
of Persebaya Surabaya, midfielder I Putu Gde of first division
club Arema Malang, and midfielder Isnan Ali of Persikota
Tangerang.

Meanwhile, striker Purwanto of PSIS Semarang failed to join
the team in training, reportedly suffering symptoms of dengue
fever. He was axed for failing to promptly notify the team
manager of his condition.

The exit of the six, four who used to be starters in the team,
has left Kolev with little options in his strategy.

However, Mafirion said Kolev should be able to cope, having
chosen a versatile top-class squad.

The second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup
consists of 32 teams split into eight groups of four. Only Group
winners advance to the next stage.

Indonesia is drawn against Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Sri
Lanka. Indonesia's first match ended in its 3-0 drubbing away in
Saudi Arabia last month.

With Saudi Arabia the strong favorite to win the group,
Indonesia is likely to be left fighting for second-best finisher.

Indonesian team:

Goalkeepers: Hendro Kartiko (Persebaya), Jendri Pitoy (Persikota)

Defenders: Hari Saputra (Persikota), Firmansyah (Persikota), Hamka
Hamza (Persik), Warsidi (Persija), Maman Abdurachman (Persijatim)
Bejo Sugiantoro (Persebaya)

Midfielders: Aples Tecuari (Persija), Agus Indra Kurniawan
(Persija), Agung Setiabudi (PSIS), Alexander Pulalo (Persib),
Ponaryo Astaman (PSM), Syamsul Bachri (PSM)

Strikers: Bambang Pamungkas (Persija), Elie Aiboy (Persija), Budi
Sudarsono (Persija), Zaenal Ichwan (Deltras)