National soccer team practices shootouts

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)