Indonesia soccer team faces daunting pre-Olympic task

JAKARTA (JP): Despite a slim chance of upsetting red-hot favorite South Korea in their Olympic Asia Oceania Zone match next week, Indonesia's booters are maintaining their spirit.

Smarting from a 1-2 home defeat in June, the Indonesians are poised to handle the South Korean attacking game in Seoul on Wednesday.

The South Koreans have every advantage to douse Indonesia's fire. Unbeaten in their two away matches, they have had a satisfying warm-up despite their one goal loss to world champion Brazil last week.

South Korea was scheduled to play another home match against lowly Hong Kong, which it thrashed 5-0 last month, late yesterday.

"It's a very tough duty. But we never think of giving up, whatever happens," Indonesian coach Danurwindo said.

With all but one of his regular players passing the fitness test, Danurwindo could at least blow away the clouds hanging over his best squad lineup the past 30 days. Stylish libero Eko Pujianto is nursing a torn ligament and his fate will be decided by Tuesday.

Stopper Aples Tecuari returned to his old form during the two warm-up matches in Taiwan. Attack-minded Aples looks certain to remain Danurwindo's first choice in the rear flank to feed twin strikers Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and Indrianto.

Kurniawan said he left behind his threatened bid for Southeast Asian Games appearance. "I'm not going to take it seriously. We are totally focusing on our two outings," Kurniawan said.

The All-Indonesia Football Association and the National Sports Council have yet to reach a compromise on whether to include Kurniawan and company in the national SEA Games soccer team or not.

Danurwindo's boys played five warm-up matches prior to their South Korean outing. They scored two wins and a loss in Sweden. They managed another warm-up victory and a draw in Taiwan.

Indonesia will complete its qualifying group matches in Hong Kong next Saturday in a possible place-saving battle. Indonesia narrowly beat Hong Kong 1-0 at the Senayan stadium in June. (amd)