Optimism keeps dream alive of soccer supremacy at SEAG
By Ivy Susanti
JAKARTA (JP): A boost of optimism from fans and top officials of the All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) may drive the 20 national team members' motivation for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to fight for the gold medal despite poor performances in tryouts prior to the biennial event.
As Indonesia's most favorite sport, many people wish soccer would bring pride to the country in regional and international competitions. But the soccer team is better known for brawling, which often occurs in the Indonesian league and even at the 1997 SEA Games final against Thailand here.
Some critics have said PSSI must review its training program and improve it step by step before it can fulfill the ambition to become a notable world team.
Critics have addressed PSSI, especially on its technical director Bernhard Schumm of Germany. Criticisms have ranged from PSSI's decision to appoint Schumm as national team coach to his training method.
But PSSI's chairman Agum Gumelar repeatedly expressed confidence in Schumm, and has been optimistic that the team could take revenge on Thailand and grab the gold in the Games, which is also a symbol of supremacy in the Southeast Asian region.
"First, we must gain supremacy in Southeast Asia before dominating Asia. Then we can move into the world arena," he said.
Schumm picked up senior and junior players, who all performed well during the fifth Indonesian soccer league in March, to join the national team squad.
Training started in June, because Schumm had to bring the under 23-year-old players to compete in the Group Eight pre- Olympics qualifying round in Seoul in May. Unfortunately, Indonesia failed to qualify for the pre-Olympics after losing 0-7 to South Korea in the last match despite four victories in previous games.
Schumm drilled players with physical exercises in the first two weeks before making game simulations to test their skills the following week.
As a warm-up for the SEA Games in Bandar Seri Begawan from August 7 to August 15, Schumm took the players to a series of overseas tournaments in Europe last month. His main goal was to select 11 key players based on several criteria which included performance abilities as a defender and attacker, header skills and physical and mental preparedness with tactical experience.
The results of the tour were far from satisfactory. Indonesia tied 2-2 with Lithuania's junior team and tied a scoreless draw against Estonia's junior team. Indonesia lost 0-2 and 0-3 to FC Levadia and FC Tulevik respectively.
Improved
Schumm said after returning from Europe that he had on his mind the lineup of the 11 players who would be deployed in each series of the Games.
The German coach said the skills of midfielders and defenders had improved but the four strikers, Widodo C. Putro, Rocky Puttiray, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and Bambang Pamungkas, still needed to improve skills, particularly in their net play.
The national team crushed local club Persijatim of East Jakarta 3-1 in a friendly on Wednesday. Schumm said he would select either Bambang, Widodo or Kurniawan for the front line because duo Widodo-Bambang performed better than Rocky-Kurniawan after he made the substitution in the second half.
A support from Agum, who observed intensely the training process of the national squad and always spared time to watch the national team matches, is expected to boost the players' motivation to win the gold after Indonesia claimed supremacy in the 1991 Games in Manila.
The three-star general also said that the national team was better prepared than Malaysia and Thailand, claiming he had information on the neighboring soccer teams' preparations.
In 1997, Indonesia lost the men's soccer final of the 19th SEA Games here, giving out 2-4 to defending champion Thailand in a penalty shootout.
Indonesia is scheduled to face Cambodia in the preliminary Group B match on July 31. This group also includes Singapore, Malaysia and host Brunei Darussalam.
Soccer team lineup
Goalkeeper: Hendro Kartiko, I Komang Putra Adnyana
Strikers: Bambang Pamungkas, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, Rocky M.E. Puttiray, Widodo Cahyono Putra
Midfielders: Aji Santoso, Agung Setiabudi, Ali Sunan, Anang Ma'ruf, Andrian Mardiansyah, Bima Sakti, Haryanto Prasetyo Adi Utomo, Uston Nawawi, Eri Irianto
Defenders: Eko Purjianto, Nur Alim, Warsidi, Slamet Riyadi, Sugiantoro.