National soccer team practices shootouts

JAKARTA (JP): The national soccer team is currently practicing penalty shootouts in Surabaya, East Java, under the supervision of coach Rusdy Bahalwan.

The team has been training for the Tiger Cup here in September since Feb. 23 and will play a trial match against team Persebaya Surabaya on March 14.

Following the practice match, the players will return to their respective clubs to compete in the fourth year of Indonesia's league matches.

Rusdy and his assistant coaches, Nandar Iskandar and Arjuna Rinaldi, supervised goalkeepers Kurnia Sandi and Hendro Kartiko receive a series of penalty shootouts from the team.

The All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) appointed Rusdy head coach of the national team late last year, replacing Henk Wullems of the Netherlands.

The shootout training is the national team's first such practice and is intended to help the coaches identify players with the best shootout skills.

Earlier practices, held at Kenjeran beach in Surabaya, have only focussed on physical training.

"We are seeking players who are good penalty shooters. Our failure in the 19th SEA Games was due to our loss in the shootouts against Thailand," Nandar said Monday. Nandar is a former player of the Persib Bandung soccer club.

Arjuna said the training was good to practice reflexes. "The training is good for both the players and the goalkeepers to improve their soccer skills." (lnt)