Pelti delays decision on coach appointments
JAKARTA (JP): With only six weeks left before the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games begin in Brunei Darussalam in August, the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) once again delayed plans to stage a selection for coaches.
Pelti secretary-general Soegeng Sarjadi said on Tuesday two coaches would be appointed instead in an official meeting after the men's and women's team selections.
The men's team selection will start Wednesday and end on Friday while the women's team selection will take place from July 1 to July 3.
Soegeng declined to confirm if coach Suharyadi would keep his job on the women's national team. Suharyadi was appointed as the coach for the country's women's team at the 13th Asian Games when wife Yayuk Basuki won her gold before retiring due to pregnancy.
"I have never endorsed a letter to appoint two coaches for the national teams. As far as I know, we'll pick up coaches and non- playing captains after we have selected players and set up the national team," he said.
His statement was contradicted by deputy secretary-general Benny Mailili's statement on Monday saying that Pelti would select one of the 15 coaches invited to explain their training programs in a one-day discussion, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday.
Soegeng said Suharyadi still had a chance to keep his post as the women's team coach.
"The coach's selection doesn't mean we have to replace them," he said after a discussion with Pelti's officials and coaches -- Deddy Prasetyo, Diko Murdono, Wailan Walalangi, Sukadiyanto, Yosafat Sihombing and Alfred Raturandang.
Officially, Suharyadi is coaching Wynne Prakusya, Liza Andriyani, Irawati Moerid Iskandar, Frederika Girsang, Angelique Wijaya and Dea Sumantri.
Wynne, Liza and Irawati were members of the 1997 SEA Games team. Together with Wukirasih Sawondari, they won the women's team gold. Wukirasih herself, who is being coached by Yosafat, won the singles gold.
Deddy is coaching men's singles Feby Widhiyanto, Hendri Susilo Pramono and Edy Kusdaryanto.
Soegeng assured the dispute would not disturb the national team's efforts to win medals at the Games.
"Our athletes keep on practicing and competing in the overseas tournament. We don't want KONI (the National Sports Council) to consider Pelti as unable to solve internal problems," he said.
Seven men and eight women players have confirmed their participation in the selection process.
Separately, national soccer team coach Bernhard Schumm expelled three players before naming his main squad members for the SEA Games.
The three are Caris Yulianto of Arema Malang and Indonesian League players Komang Mariawan of Persikota Tangerang and Khair Rifo of Semen Padang.
The German coach is expected to name 18 players for the squad early in July after returning home from European tournament programs.
"The three players have good characters and attitudes and also strong motivation. Caris is good in heading, shooting and other technical skills. He also has enough experience, but his physical condition and endurance are poor. He can't run fast and can be passed easily by faster strikers," he said.
"Khair has no balance in attacking and defending. He plays offensive and is good at passing but lacks experience. Komang is a good striker but he has no experience and power. He's not explosive enough to finish the attack at the penalty box," he said.(ivy)