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.