Irian Jaya aims for soccer gold

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The Irian Jaya soccer team is aiming to bring home the gold medal in the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya in June.

Coach Samuel Palapessy told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the team, comprising 23 players, would try its best to reach its goal.

Twelve of the 23 players are training at Mandala stadium, five are joining the Persipura club for the sixth Indonesian soccer league (Ligina) and the remaining five are joining clubs outside Irian Jaya.

Samuel said 10 players -- competing for the Ligina -- would join the provincial team in April to adjust with teammates.

He claimed that the provincial team did not have enough soccer balls to train with. However, he said, the problem would not block their ambition to win the gold.

Irian Jaya took the silver medal in the 1996 PON after losing 1-2 to winner East Java. (eba)