Pelti undecided on Davis Cup coach

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) was unable to resolve on Wednesday a dispute over who to appoint as the Davis Cup team's coach.

Pelti's official in charge of junior athlete development, Dedy Prasetyo, suggested the deadlock could be broken if the six- member Davis Cup team trained with their preferred coaches.

"Tennis is an individual sport. So let the players train with their favorite coaches. About a couple weeks before the matches begin, Pelti could pick up a nonplaying captain to develop team work," he said.

As an example, Dedy cited the United States Davis Cup team, whose nonplaying captain does not immediately train all team members.

"If the United States tennis association appointed Tim Gullikson as its nonplaying captain, should Andre Agassi be trained by him?" he said.

He said the nonplaying captain should be a former coach who knew the team members' and opponents' skills so he or she could apply the best tactics for a match.

"The coaches will only support the nonplaying captain with their opinions and ideas," he said.

Pelti has invited six players -- Dede Suhendar Dinata, Suwandi, Hendri Susilo Pramono, Sebastian DaCosta, Febi Widhiyanto and Edy Kusdaryanto -- to join the training session for the Davis Cup.

Only four players will be selected to play in the Davis Cup tie against the Philippines at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Complex in Manila from Feb. 4 to Feb. 6.

The Philippines beat 4-1 for the first time during their five encounters held here in April.

Pelti's official in charge of athletes and regional development, Sudjiono Timan, said on Monday that he would probably announce the name of the team's coach on Wednesday.

Dedy, as well as former national tennis player Tintus Arianto Wibowo, were the front-runners for the position. They were respectively appointed as coach and nonplaying captain for the 1999 Davis Cup team.

Dedy is currently coaching Dede, Hendri, Sebastian, Febi and Edy, while Suwandi is trained by Tintus.

Dede and Sebastian said on Monday that they preferred Dedy to take on the team coach role because he had good training methods and communicated well with his players.

The following day, Tintus withdrew from the Davis Cup nomination, citing as reasons his age and family and time commitments.

Suwandi, however, would not be drawn into speculation about his chances for the coaching job. "No comment," he said curtly on Wednesday. (ivy)