Nine more players may join Asian Cup training

JAKARTA (JP): National soccer team coach Nandar Iskandar hopes nine additional players will take part in the final three weeks of training for the 2000 Asian Cup soccer tournament.

Nandar identified the players as Fachry Husaini, Marthen Tao and Jet Donald Laala from the Pupuk Kaltim Bontang (PKT) club; Hendro Kartiko, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, Bima Sakti and Aji Santoso from PSM Makassar; Sugiantoro from Persebaya Surabaya; and Eduard Ivak Dalam from Persipura Jayapura.

The PKT and PSM players are preparing to take part in the Asian Winners Cup and Asian Club Championships on Sept. 20 and Sept. 27, respectively.

Nandar said he had asked the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to help him urge the players to return immediately to the training camp for the Asian Cup tournament.

"I have asked PSSI secretary-general Tri Goestoro to discuss with PKT and PSM allowing the players to join the national team. PKT officials said the players would be in Jakarta on Sept. 27 while PSM said it would send its players on Sept. 20.

"Our time is short. It's impossible to recruit young players. We set up the program at the end of the Independence Cup last month, but we are facing many obstacles just three weeks before the Asian Cup. This is very difficult for us," he said after a training session at Senayan stadium on Tuesday.

Nandar said Sugiantoro and Anang Ma'ruf would likely arrive at the training camp on Tuesday evening. He also said Ivak Dalam might have difficulties arranging a flight.

Thirteen players have been training for the tournament since Monday. The players are Eko Purjianto, Gendut Doni Christianto, I Putu Gede, I Komang Putra, Imran Nahumarury, Ismet Sofyan, Nur'alim, Sahari Gultom, Seto Nurdiantoro, Slamet Riyadi, Uston Nawawi, Yaris Riyadi and Warsidi.

Nandar also confirmed he would remain the head coach of the national team until the Tiger Cup tournament, despite reports he would be replaced by Henk Wullems of the Netherlands.

"I can't decide if Wullems will also join the national team as a technical adviser. When PSSI came up with this idea, I was not invited to take part in the discussion. Let the officials decide if they will hire Wullems or not."

The Asian Cup tournament will take place from Oct. 12 to Oct. 29 in Lebanon. Indonesia, in Group B with South Korea, China and Kuwait, will play its first match against Kuwait on Oct. 13 in Tripoli, Lebanon

The director of the national team, Muhammad Zein, said Tri had asked the owners of club PKT to send its players to the training camp on Wednesday.

"They can take part in the training and return to East Kalimantan before Sept. 20 .... We insist they be here because we will likely fly to the Netherlands on Sept. 22 to play some warm- ups against local clubs. We might leave for Beirut on Oct. 7 because we must register at least five days before the tournament begins," Zein said.

He also guaranteed the national team's preparations would not be disrupted by any controversy over the coaching situation.

"We have no problem with it. Henk Wullems is not a significant factor in the training program." (ivy)