Indonesia names soccer squad for 20th SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesia Soccer Federation (PSSI) announced on Friday the names of the 23 players to compete for the country in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.

Spokesman Tondo Widodo said PSSI coach and team manager Bernhard Schumm selected six players from Persebaya Surabaya, the runner-up of the fifth Indonesian League (Ligina) competition, but only picked three players from PSIS Semarang, the underdogs who won the Ligina title in April.

Schumm was not available for comment on Friday, but there was no objection from chairman Agum Gumelar on the lineup. "I trust Schumm could decide on the SEA Games squad," Agum said earlier.

The six Persebaya players are Hendro Kartiko, Sugiantoro, Anang Ma'ruf, Aji Santoso, Eri Irianto and Uston Nawawi. PSIS sent out Komang Putra, Agung Setiabudi and Ali Sunan.

Home teams Pelita Bakrie and Persija Jakarta have five and three players respectively. The Pelita Bakrie players are Kurnia Sandy, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, Bima Sakti, Haryanto Prasetyo and Eko Purjianto and Persija's Nur Alim, Widodo C. Putra and Rocky Putiray.

The other players are Slamet Riyadi (PSMS Medan), Warsidi (Persita Tangerang), Caris Yulianto (Arema Malang), Khair Rifo (Semen Padang), Bambang Pamungkas (Diklat Salatiga) and Komang Mariawan (Persikota).

The SEA Games squad will start its training program on May 31, after its junior players, which are included in the pre-Olympics soccer team, return from South Korea after competing in the prequalifying round for the 2000 Olympic Games. The pre-Olympic soccer team, comprising players under 23, leaves Jakarta on Saturday and will return before the May 31 training.

In the SEA Games draw, Indonesia is in Group B together with Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. Group A consists of Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.

Indonesia lost 2-4 to defending champion Thailand in a penalty shootout in the 19th Games final here in 1997. In this year's Games, which is held for the first time in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia is aiming for a gold medal.

"Our target is a gold medal in the Games," Agum said.

The squad will leave for Brunei on July 25 and will play Cambodia on July 31. On Aug. 2, it will meet Malaysia, and will play Singapore on Aug. 6 and Brunei on Aug. 9. The semifinals will be played on Aug. 12 and the final on Aug. 14.

Earlier, the pre-Olympic soccer team visited National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar to ask for his blessing. The team was accompanied by Agum, PSSI secretary- general Nugraha Besoes, Schumm and other officials.

Sugiantoro, the team's captain, vowed that the team would give its best to the nation although it had a slim chance against giant team South Korea. (ivy)