Men's volleyball team aims for gold in 2001 SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Volleyball Federation (PBVSI) vice chairman overseeing athletes development, Putut Marhaento, said on Sunday that the country's men's indoor volleyball team had a chance to win the gold in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.

"I'm optimistic that our men's team can repeat its success in the 1997 Games by winning the gold. Our men's team has equal skills with tough countries compared to the women's counterparts. Our preparation will determine our destiny."

"For the women's team, PBVSI only aims to reach the final," said Putut, who is also in charge of the Games training program, at the sidelines of an All-Star match at the Bung Karno Indoor Stadium.

Indonesian women's team won the 1997 Games silver here. Volleyball was not featured in the 1999 Games in Brunei Darussalam.

PBVSI has called up 20 men and 25 women indoor volleyballers and 20 men and women beach volleyballers to the training program. The women's indoor volleyball team is coached by Japanese Michio Fujiwara while local coaches Wienarto and Ayub Hidayat will supervise the men's indoor volleyball training.

Putut, who also coaches the men's volleyball team Yuso of Yogyakarta, said the number of indoor volleyballers would be reduced to 14 in each men's and women's team somewhere in March or April. The core team, which will be set up by the end of August, will consist of 12 men's and women's players.

"The men's team will warm up in the Asia-Pacific volleyball championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in June. Its second test will be the pre-qualifying round of the Asia zone for the World Cup volleyball tournament in Kazakhstan in August."

"The women's team will also leave for Bangkok to take part in the Princess Cup in June. After that, they will try find an opportunity to play either the Japanese or Chinese team."

Putut said Thailand would be the toughest contender for both national teams.

"Thai women have good postures and physical skills. Besides Thailand, our men's team must also fight hard against Myanmar and Malaysia, while the women's team will have to compete against the Philippines and Vietnam."

In the All-Star match, the eastern team overpowered the western team 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 25-18, 19-25, 15-11) in the women's division. The men's match was still taking place as of press time.

"This game is purely entertainment and features the top women's volleyballers in clubs which compete in the 2000 volleyball league. This show is momentous because we want our stars, our players, to shine so that the public can appreciate it," said coach Teuku Djohan, who also trains the 2000 league champions Bank BNI women's team of Jakarta. (ivy)