Indonesia to play Qatar in youth soccer contest
Indonesia to play Qatar in youth soccer contest
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has been drawn to meet Qatar in their
Group A opening match of the 29th Asian Youth Under-19
Championship finals at Senayan Stadium here on Sept. 11.
Azwar Anas, the chairman of the All Indonesia Football
Federation (PSSI), told reporters here yesterday that the tourney
will feature 10 contenders including host Indonesia which will
fight to represent Asia for the upcoming World Cup designated for
under 20 year-old booters in Nigeria, to be held at a time which
is yet to be decided by FIFA, the world's highest authority on
soccer.
The 10 teams include Bahrain, South Korea, Japan, Syria,
Kazakhstan, Qatar, Iraq, Thailand, Kuwait and host Indonesia.
The draw placed Indonesia in the same group with Kazakhstan,
Syria, Iraq and Qatar. The Group B is comprised of Japan, Kuwait,
Thailand, South Korea and Bahrain. Being the host, Indonesia
received an automatic entry to the tournament.
The tournament is scheduled to wind up on Sept. 25.
Peter Velappan, Secretary General of the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC), Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono
Isman, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja and chairman of the All-
Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) attended the draw
yesterday.
PSSI will deploy its under-18 booters who were sent for a one-
year stint in Genoa, Italy where they trained and participated in
the junior primary soccer league, Azwar said.
The players have returned home and are currently being drilled
in Sawangan, West Java by three coaches including Romano Mate,
Danurwindo and Harry Tjong.
During the same occasion, Nirwan Bakrie, a PSSI official in
charge of national team preparations, told newsmen that the team
had obtained video recordings of all their rivals which could
help the team's training.
Nirwan, however, declined to discuss further. "All
participants have equal chances to win the championship," he said
briefly.
Also yesterday Hayono hinted his refusal of PSSI's bid to turn
up for the Asian Games soccer competitions in Hiroshima in
October.
"Due to the scarcity of funds, we have to give priority to
athletes who have chances of winning medals," Hayono said, adding
that he found the national soccer team had yet to show a
commendable performance.
"The Games are not a mere testing ground. It is the field
where athletes fight for the best achievement," he said.
Velappan, to the contrary, gave a morale booster to PSSI to
take part in the continent's sporting meet. "The main aim of the
Games is improving solidarity among Asian nations through sports,
not winning medals," he said. (hdj/amd)