Indonesia has chance to beat China: Captain Bima Sakti

Indonesia has chance to beat China: Captain Bima Sakti

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian captain Bima Sakti radiated
confidence over his squad's chances of beating host China in the
2002 World Cup Asia Zone Group Nine qualifier at Kunming, China,
on Sunday.

Bima said local soccer fans estimated that the visitor would
be able to put up a good show against odds-on favorite China even
though the host had better skills than the Indonesians.

"We never expected it. The information has boosted our
motivation to prepare ourselves better," Bima was quoted by
spokesman for the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Eddi
Elison as saying in the Horizon hotel in Kunming on Thursday.

Bima said that all the players had started to adjust
themselves to the cold weather in the city, which is located some
2,000 meters above sea level.

Indonesia still tops the group nine standings after winning
all of its four matches. China also notched up victories in all
three of the matches it has played so far to trail in second
place, but it is the favorite to qualify for the next round as it
still has three more matches in hand, two of them against
Indonesia and one more home match against Cambodia.

Indonesia will host China at the Bung Karno Stadium in the
Senayan complex here on May 27 at the end of the campaign.

Uston Nawawi expressed his regrets that he could not play in
Sunday's match due to his accumulated number of yellow cards.

"It's a pity that I can't play on Sunday. But I'll be able to
make use of my time by analyzing China's performance, so I can
prepare for the Chinese tactics during our home match in
Jakarta," he said.

Uston will likely be replaced by Mattheus Seta Nurdiyantara.

"I'm ready to replace Uston. The most important thing is that
we realize China is a tough opponent. I'll try to defend well
against their players," he said.

Teammate Yaris Riyadi said he had fully recovered from his
head injury and was ready to go back into the field.

Eddi quoted coach Benny Dolo as saying that his team could
benefit from its underdog status.

"We are fully prepared to go the whole way against China. We
have nothing to lose. We're not carrying any baggage. It is China
who is under pressure to win the match. I will use this
opportunity. Moreover, I have a comprehensive picture of China's
strengths and weaknesses," he said.

Separately, PSSI chairman Agum Gumelar said here that he had
set up a medical team to verify the medical report saying that at
least 20 under-15 players have falsified their ages to play in
the Bogasari league.

"If the medical checks on the players confirm the report, we
will investigate whether our local chapters were aware of this.
If the chapters know about it, that means they are involved and
we will sanction them."

Head of the PSSI's health commission Sonny L. Tobing said the
players would have tests conducted on their metacarpals (a bone
in the hand) to ascertain their ages as tooth examinations might
fail to do so. (ivy)