National SEA Games soccer team to play New Zealand

National SEA Games soccer team to play New Zealand

JAKARTA (JP): The national SEA Games soccer team will play New
Zealand in a friendly game in Surabaya, East Java, on Sept. 21.

The match between the national team and New Zealand will
serve as a trial match for the team for the coming 19th SEA Games
in October.

Tondo Widodo, spokesman of the Indonesian Football Association
(PSSI), said Sunday in Bandung, West Java, that at first the
organizer in Surabaya did not want to hold the game there because
they were not prepared.

"But we had received confirmation from the Persebaya officials
they will hold the match," Antara quoted Tondo as saying.

Tondo said that Oman had canceled its scheduled match against
the national team slated for Sept. 28. Tondo declined to give a
reason for the cancellation but said that PSSI was seeking a
replacement to Oman.

"We will still hold the September 28 match but we have yet to
decide which foreign team will play against our team. We have
planned for the match to be in Medan," Tondo said.

The national team is holding a series of trial matches against
foreign teams to prepare for the Games.

During the trial match Sunday in Bandung, the national team
defeated Tanzania 3-1 (2-1).

The three goals from the Indonesian side came from Fachri
Husaini, Kurniawan and Widodo C. Putro. The sole goal from
Tanzania came from Edibily Lunyamil.

In the match against Tanzania, the Indonesian team consisted
of Listiyanto Rahardo (goalkeeper), Robby Darwis, Nursalim,
Khairil Anwar, Anang Makruf, Aji Santoso, Ansyari Lubis, Fachri
Husaini, Widodo C. Putro and Kurniawan.

Tanzanian coach Roy Whelan of England said after the match
that he regretted that his players could not show their best
performance.

"Many of the players were tired after a long journey from
Tanzania to Jakarta. Before arriving in Bandung, we had to pass
Switzerland, Bangkok and Singapore," Roy said.

Roy, however, admitted that the Indonesian team played well
and his team had difficulty in passing through the tight defense
of the Indonesian team. Roy began training the Tanzanian team
just three months ago.

Coach Henk Wullem, meanwhile, said that he was satisfied with
the players' performance against Tanzania and said the players
showed good teamwork.

"This match is not that important since we are concentrating
on the 19th SEA Games. I am satisfied with the players'
performance," Henk said.

But Henk said there were several things that needed to be
polished in the Indonesian team, particularly to create a better
teamwork.

"We still lack good strikers. Widodo and Kurniawan should have
created more goals but it seems their teamwork was not good,"
Henk said. (lnt)