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.