Indonesia to go all-out in soccer final
Indonesia to go all-out in soccer final
By Budiman Moerdijat
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will pull out all the stops tonight in
its bid to wrest the SEA Games soccer title from defending
champion Thailand.
The final kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Senayan Stadium.
"We will do our best to win the game," the team's Dutch coach
Henk Wullems said yesterday.
He expects all the players to play with the same fighting
spirit they have demonstrated from the first kick of the first
match of the tournament.
But, he said, the stakes will be much higher than in any of
the previous matches as the winners will be going home with gold
medals round their necks.
Wullems promised that his side would not change its attacking
tactics for today's game.
In its five previous matches, Indonesia's offensive attitude
has reaped great rewards.
The host defeated Laos 5-2, Malaysia 4-0, the Philippines 2-0
and Singapore 2-1. Only Vietnam was able to contain the home
side, scrambling to a 2-2 draw against Wullems' side.
Wullems added that in the final, Indonesia would try to
control the match by playing its own game. "We will make the
opponents follow our game," he said.
When asked about the Thai team, Wullems said that all of the
Thailand players were dangerous, but, added quickly that
Indonesia should not be afraid of them.
"We also have dangerous players," he said.
The huge support Indonesia will get from the crowd at Senayan
Stadium will be very important as it will ensure their motivation
to win does not flag.
"They have affected us positively, we feel that we play with
12 players," Wullems said.
The Indonesian team, he said, is also ready for the 30 minutes
extra time and the penalty shoot-out.
"But, I have not made any special preparations for those
things."
"In a penalty shoot-out, the most important thing is the
players' self-confidence," he said, adding that even the best
soccer player in the world could fail if he lacked self-
confidence.
Former national player Herry Kiswanto, who is the team
manager's assistant, warned that the speed and mobility of the
Thais could be serious threats to Indonesia.
"The players must be disciplined when marking the area," he
said, and thought that the team that was stronger mentally would
prevail.
"Thailand is a strong team, but, Indonesia also has its
chances to win the game."
The Thailand coach, Withaya Laohakul, said that the final was
a much-awaited showdown.
"Indonesia is a good team and they deserve to be in the
final," he said at a post-match press conference Thursday.
He added that Thailand would pay close attention to the
strikers Kurniawan Dwi Yulinato and Widodo Cahyono Putro, and the
captain Fachry Husaini.
The All-Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI) and the Games'
organizing committee are beefing up security for tonight's match.
More than 3,000 security personnel will be deployed as more
than a hundred thousand spectators are predicted to flock to the
stadium.