National soccer promises much, but can't quite deliver

National soccer promises much, but can't quite deliver

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The expectations from the national soccer team's promising
start to the year in the Tiger Cup had fizzled by the end of the
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December.

Although the team finished runner-up for the third consecutive
time in the biennial soccer competition for the Southeast Asian
region, losing to Singapore 1-3 and 1-2 in January, new coach
Peter Withe's emphasis on attacking, dynamic soccer was already
evident.

The team's focus on taking the offensive reaped 24 goals in
the Tiger Cup.

Supporters turned out in droves to cram Bung Karno Stadium in
Senayan, Central Jakarta, for the semifinals and final.

Withe identified several up-and-coming players -- Boaz
Salossa, Mahyadi Panggabean and Ilham Jayakesuma -- and was
enthusiastic about Indonesia finding great soccer talent among
its 220 million population.

The Englishman, who coached Thailand to the semifinals of the
1998 Asian Games amid the country's continuing stranglehold on
soccer in the SEA Games, was pleased with the Tiger Cup showing,
especially with only one month's preparation after the end of the
match-heavy Indonesian League.

"The Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) must make a league
schedule that also refers to the timetable of the national team
so that the league can supply the national team with good and
fresh players," he said.

The Tiger Cup result was enough to convince the National
Sports Council (KONI) of strong medal chances at the SEA Games in
the Philippines.

Withe's arrival was a bright spot amid the disappointment
about the management of soccer by PSSI, often criticized for
arbitrary, half-baked decisions.

PSSI first opted to change the league competition in 1994 when
the semiprofessional league, locally known as Galatama and
featuring privately owned clubs, was merged with the amateur
competition (Perserikatan) into the all-encompassing Indonesian
League.

There has been a lack of consistency since as the league
underwent change; in 2004, the former 18 clubs were split into
two regions of 14. The top four from each division advanced to
the next stage, where the eight qualifiers then went into a
round-robin system (it will remain the same next year, PSSI
announced last week).

This year's league competition was marred by the angry
withdrawal of Persebaya Surabaya, who alleged biased officiating
and fears for the safety of its fans -- notorious for their
unruly behavior -- at away games.

There was a fairy-tale end to the tournament, as Persipura
Jayapura defeated star-studded favorite Persija Jakarta 3-2 in
Senayan in the final -- to the chagrin of the host's fans who
went on the rampage.

PSSI also the introduced the single knockout Copa Dji Sam Soe
competition, with 28 clubs from the main division, 30 clubs from
the first division and six clubs from the second division.

Persija again reached the final, only to lose once again 3-4
in extra time.

At the the Asian level, Persebaya and 2004 runner-up PSM were
unable to qualify for the knockout stages in the Champions
League, both finishing third in their respective groups.

In the SEA Games in Bacolod City, Indonesia, which last won
the Games in 1991, fell 1-3 to Thailand in the semifinals and 0-1
to Malaysia in the bronze-medal playoff.

Withe attributed the failure to a lack of experience and
preparation, with many unable to secure playing time on their
club teams due to the presence of foreign players.

He called for a limitation on the number of foreigners allowed
on each team.

PSSI had bowed to the clout of rich clubs by increasing the
permitted number of foreign players from four to five per team.

It's true that the influx of foreign players, especially from
South America, as well as the poor physical and technical
standards at the club level, have lowered the standard of
national soccer.

But 2006 may bring some hope. Vision Asia -- the Asian
Football Confederation's bid to bring professionalism to Asian
soccer -- will begin its pilot project in Bandung and Yogyakarta
in the new year.

If it falls by the wayside, thwarted by the old forces with
their own agenda, then national soccer may end up with nothing to
offer but the yells and chants of its fans.