Persija, PSM face prospect of grudge match

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

PSM Makassar will start Sunday's match with the dream of clinching a rare back-to-back win, but it is host Persija which is the favorite thanks to its upset win over the defending champion in the group matches.

PSM coach Syamsudin Umar said his side would, in fact, benefit by being written off.

"People have their reasons for saying so after our defeat at home. We are by no means disheartened by the odds. In reality, this will provide the players with extra motivation."

Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, who is expected to partner Miro Baldo Bento up front, said he wanted revenge for the loss.

"I vow a grudge fight to the end. We have put the loss behind us. It will fire us up for revenge," said the 26-year-old national team striker.

While admitting that the players had were smarting a lot over the embarrassment last week, Syamsudin appeared to adopt a more philosophical attitude ahead of Sunday's match.

He noted that the defeat had exposed the bad tempers of players following a slip-up in the dying minutes of play. "Playing football we must impose on ourselves total discipline and concentration collectively," he said.

Meanwhile, Persija was far from taking PSM lightly, with striker Bambang Pamungkas saying that there was not a guarantee of another win.

Team skipper Budiman said that he was relieved that Joko Puspito would return to the game. Joko played a key role in the team's defeat of PSM with his battling play to frustrate Kurniawan.

"I am more relieved with him in defense," he said.

Sunday's match, which will be attended by President Megawati, will see Persija play in the final for the first time in 22 years. The last time Persija beat PSMS to win the league, which was then an amateur competition.

There are fears that the Jakarta side could become complacent.

"We don't think so. We have warned the players against being staging premature celebrations and told them that we have yet to accomplish the task," coach Sofyan Hadi said at the team's retreat in the Crowne Hotel.

Sofyan told the players to do their utmost. "The players must exert their skills for the final game," he said.

Persija will play without Cameroonian midfielder Ebanda Timothy, who is still serving a two-match ban after collecting a red card in the quarterfinals.

As to the prospect of PSM playing a rough game, Sofyan said:" We can take it. We are by no means afraid of PSM. Why should we be? We beat them on their home turf."

Meanwhile, his PSM counterpart said that they would not sit back and allow Persija to dictate to them.

"I have ordered the players to take the initiative as early as possible. We will be putting the pressure on them right from the start.

"In the final game, if we are to lose then it's no different if we concede 0-5 or 0-1. So we must take the risk," said Syamsudin, who held the same job from 1992 to 1994. He quit only to return again in 1999.

He conceded that his players had their physical condition affected after a tough game with PSMS in the semifinals, but he was confident that they would recover in time.

Probable team lineups:

Persija - Mbeng Jean; Nur'alim, Antonio Claudio, Joko Puspito; Anang Ma'ruf, Budiman, Agus Suprianto, Luciano Leandro, Imran Nahumaruri; Gendut Doni, Bambang Pamungkas

PSM - Hendro Kartiko; Ortisan Salosa, Alexander Pulalo, Ronny Ririn; Yoseph Lewono, Suwandi, Bima Sakti, Carlos de Melo, Yuniarto Budi; Miro Baldo Bento, Kurniawan Dwi Julianto