Maintain the Games soccer team: Official

Maintain the Games soccer team: Official

JAKARTA (JP): A top official from the Indonesian Football
Association (PSSI) disagrees that the SEA Games soccer team
should be dissolved, preferring it to be maintained.

Syarnoebi Said, the association's advisor, made the statement
Monday, following Indonesia's 3-5 defeat by Thailand at the
Senayan Stadium Saturday and the brutality of spectators wrecking
the stadium and damaging cars.

"The team, under coach Henk Wullems, is still the best managed
by PSSI, so, I don't think we should terminate it but rather
maintain it," Syarnoebi said.

Syarnoebi, a former chairman of the association, said if there
was a plan to break up the team and create a new one, it would
not produce a good team.

He agrees that rather than abolish the team, it would be
better if there were an improvement on the players, particularly
regarding weaknesses found in the team.

As to plans to form another SEA Games team, Syarnoebi said
again this is not the right time because there are two more
events which have to be concentrated.

"The team should now concentrate on two events, the ASEAN Cup,
to be held in Jakarta, and the Asian Games 1998 in Bangkok,"
Syarnoebi said.

Syarnoebi said that Wullems should now think of giving the
players more practice, including trial matches with teams from
Europe.

"Such a move was made by Thailand. As to our defeat by
Thailand, we should not be dismayed because our players have done
their best," Syarnoebi said.

Syarnoebi has promised to give an extra bonus of Rp 3 million
to each player, after Indonesia managed to grab the silver medal.

On Monday, a soccer observer from Surabaya, East Java, called
on the association's executives to resign after Indonesia's
defeat.

"It's obvious that PSSI could not bring the Indonesian team to
victory. For this reason, I suggest that the association's
executives resign from their position," said Edi Yuwono of the
Persebaya team, reported Antara.

Edi said that PSSI would have succeeded in its mission had
Indonesia won the tournament. "If our team wins, this is a
success. But if it loses, it is high time there is a change in
the association's management."

The brutality of the spectators wrecking the stadium and
damaging cars has led to the possibility that the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) might impose punitive action on PSSI,
prohibiting it from holding international matches for an unstated
period.

On Monday, Nugraha Besoes, the association's secretary, said
if the AFC does take punitive action on PSSI, it will mean
Indonesia could not hold three events: the Winners Cup Winners,
November, and the Tigers Cup and pre-Olympics next year.

"We have sent a detailed report to the AFC on the tragedy. We
only hope that the AFC understands the situation and does not
punish us (PSSI)," Nugraha said.

PSSI is currently totaling the cost of damages caused by the
spectators and what action is to be taken. A meeting is scheduled
to be held tomorrow by PSSI and the coach. (lnt)