Nandar instructs team to secure midfield

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's national team coach, Nandar Iskandar, said his players would have to control the midfield to win their first match against Hong Kong in the home-and-away prequalifying round of the Asian Cup at Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong, on Sunday.

Nandar said the Hong Kong team's midfield were quick and accurate in controlling and passing the ball on to the forwards. He observed the team's performance against Cambodia on Monday where Hong Kong won 4-1.

"All four goals were created by Hong Kong's midfield who managed to take control of the center of the pitch," he told reporters on Wednesday evening.

Nandar said he would instruct his players to secure the midfield particularly when their opponents where in possession of the ball in this area.

"Our players should be able to block the Hong Kong midfield players and not to allow them to pass the ball to the forwards," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Nandar hoped that midfield players Imron Nahumahuri, Bima Sakti, Uston Nawawi and Ali Sunan could do the job successfully. He also said that Hong Kong players might win more balls in air as they are taller than Indonesian players.

However, he is optimistic that Indonesia has a chance to win the first leg as the Hong Kong team "is not very special".

The team will leave for Hong Kong on Friday. After that, it will fly to Pnomh Penh on Oct. 26 to challenge Cambodia in the second match on Oct. 30.

Nandar said the Cambodian team was not as strong as the one which competed in the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam last August, although most of players competed in the Games.

"The team is no longer coached by the German Joachim Flickert. But we have to be careful because the local fans will get right behind their team," he said. (ivy)

Team lineup

Goalkeepers: Hendro Kartiko, Sahari Gultom Defenders: Aji Santoso, Anang Ma'ruf, Eko Purjianto, Sugiantoro, Ismed Sofyan, Nur'Alim, I Made Pasek Wijaya Midfield players: Ali Sunan, Alexander Saununu, Bima Sakti, Hariyanto Prasetyo, Imran Nahumarury, Uston Nawawi Forwards: Bambang Pamungkas, Rocky M.E. Putiray, Widodo C. Putro