Optimism keeps dream alive of soccer supremacy at SEAG

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.