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)