Pelti undecided on Davis Cup coach

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)