Indonesia not ready for Asian U-19 c'ship: Official

JAKARTA (JP): The national team director of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), Mohammad Zein, said on Wednesday that Indonesia was not fully prepared for the pre-qualifying round of the Asian under 19 championships.

He was surprised upon learning that the competition would start in April in Szechuan, China. Indonesia is in Group 6 with China, Chinese Taipei and Myanmar. The championships final will take place in Tehran from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26.

"I have read the notification from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about the pre-qualifying round. I have no further comment on this. We have to begin training on March 1. We hope that the U-19 team will be here on Feb. 27 or Feb. 28."

"We will have the team lineup Friday at the latest. But we can't expect much from this. Whatever will be, will be. We can't withdraw from participating in the competition," he said.

Zein said PSSI would select the players from clubs which are now competing in the sixth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) and from students training centers.

He also said that U-19 coach Rudy Keltjes had observed several talented players from eastern Indonesia who competed in the pre- qualifying round for the 15th National Games (PON).

Zein said that Keltjes, who is still with Persipura Jayapura club in Irian Jaya, would be in Jakarta early in March.

"We have no chance for overseas trials. Maybe we will compete with local clubs to test our skills," he said.

He said that PSSI would ask AFC to delay the pre-qualifying round until May.

"We will send a letter to AFC to ask for the delay. AFC had earlier told us that it must have the list of the champions in each group by June at the latest," he said. "It's our fault. If we had an official in AFC, we would be informed sooner."

Zein said he would announce Tuesday the players names to compete in the senior Asian Cup final in Lebanon from Oct. 12 to Oct. 29. He said players would undergo selection in March and their number would be reduced to 24.

"The training program will start effectively in June."

PSSI and the ministry of national education plan to sign a memorandum of understanding in the school year beginning in July to jointly groom young players aged between 16 and 18 in Ragunan sports school, South Jakarta and other similar schools in Irian Jaya, Maluku, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Sumatra and Salatiga, Central Java.

"The 16-year old players who joined soccer clubs in their respective areas will be invited to enter the sports schools. PSSI will supply a soccer coach, while the ministry of education will provide boarding houses and nourishment," he said.

Sri Sudono Sumarto, the ministry's director of sports of the directorate general of informal school education, youth and sports, said earlier that he hoped the system could supply enough players to join the national team.

"PSSI will join us in the program starting from recruitment, training and providing coaches," he said. "Some of our students can join PSSI U-19 team while some members of the team can join us in the student championships."

Zein said students would still be allowed to compete in the teen competition. He also said that a talented player would be offered a chance to train with foreign clubs.

"We don't have to worry about financial support. If we have good intentions, people will not be hesitant to donate," he said. (ivy/yan)