Nandar replaces Schumm as national team coach

Nandar replaces Schumm as national team coach

JAKARTA (JP): The All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI),
bowing to pressure from local fans, announced on Friday that
Nandar Iskandar would replace German Bernard Schumm as the
national team coach.

PSSI chairman Agum Gumelar said Nandar's first assignment
would be to prepare the team for the prequalifying round of the
Asia Cup, set to kick off on Oct. 23 in Hong Kong.

"The officials' meeting decided to replace Schumm. We
appreciated his effort. If we use clear thinking, I believe
Schumm is not as bad as the condemnation he has received from the
soccer community. He has good training methods, relationships
with the players and he is astute in observing the rivals'
strengths.

"But he doesn't have the Midas touch," said Agum in a news
conference at the National Resilience Institute, which he heads.

Indonesian soccer fans were dismayed and angered by the poor
performance of the team in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
in Brunei Darussalam early this month.

The team took home the bronze medal after falling to unrated
Vietnam in the semifinals. Defending champion Thailand retained
the gold medal by beating Vietnam in the final.

Agum said Schumm would remain in his post as PSSI technical
director until the federation held its four-day congress starting
on Sept. 19.

Nandar is the former coach of Bandung-based Persib soccer
club and assistant coach to Rusdy Bahalwan in the Tiger Cup in
Hanoi last year. He will be assisted by Dananjaya and Mohammad
Zen will remain the team manager.

Agum said he would consider extending Nandar's tenure as coach
if he led the team to qualify for the Asia Cup top 12.

"PSSI's athletes development officials should start arranging
training programs and scheduling tryouts prior to the Asia Cup
pre-qualifying round. We plan to start the training program on
Sept. 1."

Agum will retain the entire SEA Games team lineup and will
also invite national top striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and
Tugiyo of PSIS Semarang to join the training.

Kurniawan was withdrawn from the team for the Games after
testing positive for amphetamines in a drug test one month before
the event.

Agum said PSSI would not suspend Kurniawan.

"I made the decision in my capacity as PSSI chairman. I
believe Kurniawan will change his attitude," he said.

As for Tugiyo, Agum said he had observed his performance in
the fifth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) in April, where he
kicked the sole goal in the final between PSIS and Persebaya
Surabaya. PSIS won the final after a 12-year title drought.

"He's very dangerous in the penalty box. He proved it when
playing against Persebaya," he said.

Agum also said that in the sixth Ligina, to kick off in
November, PSSI will stop supporting clubs financially and
encourage them to seek their own sponsorships.

"When we support them, some people accused PSSI of
monopolizing the soccer club. After this decision, I hope in the
future there will be no complaints that PSSI neglects the club,"
he said.

Agum also said he was ready to be elected as PSSI chairman in
the congress if it was the public's wish. However, he indignantly
told journalists they could start looking for other candidates
for the position if they wished. (ivy)