Players must beat inferiority, says Kolev

Players must beat inferiority, says Kolev

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian players suffer an inferiority syndrome when faced
against strong international teams, according to national team
coach Ivan Venkov Kolev.

"Therefore, the squad must work it out and find some courage
if they want to pose a tough challenge during the 2006 World Cup
Asian qualification round," Kolev told reporters here on Tuesday
through an interpreter.

Kolev of Bulgaria said he was puzzled by the national players'
behavior at several international matches.

He said that when the players lost the ball, they would just
give up, retreating to their goal area. That's a bad habit, which
will allow opponents to snatch control of the space and become
dangerous with goal attempts.

"When I ask them, why do they keep doing that, they are just
clueless," he said.

Therefore, he said, for the coming World Cup qualifying
matches he had called up players who he believed would likely
have the courage to stand up against their more famous opponents.

"In Bulgaria, we would send players with such inferiority
complexes to the zoo to have a stare down contest with a lion,"
he said jokingly, but emphasized that eventually the national
players had to learn how to be men.

Kolev announced a number of players shortlisted for the
national training center. The hopefuls, who will start their
training on Sunday, include three goalkeepers, nine defenders,
five midfielders and three strikers.

Kolev said he had recruited so many defenders because the
national team traditionally had a problem in defense.

The players have been recruited based on their performance in
the recent Southeast Asian Games and the local pro league.

The opponents' expected style of play style in the
qualification rounds have also weighed on the choices.

Indonesia is drawn against Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Sri
Lanka. The first away match is scheduled against Saudi Arabia on
Feb. 18.

Kolev said that the team would not adopt a play format with
just one taking the role as a playmaker, because he wants
everyone with the ball to know how to maneuver within their
respective role and be a playmaker.

"It doesn't matter whether we use a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 format.
What matters is how the squad members understand their respective
tasks on the field," he said.

Persija Jakarta dominates the nominee list with six players.
Persikota Tangerang and Persebaya Surabaya have four each. PSIS
Semarang and Persik Kediri contribute two each while Persipura
Jayapura, PSM Makassar and first division Arema Malang have one
each.

A number of old names have been included on the list. Among
them are Hendro Kartiko, Warsidi, Bejo Sugiantoro, Aples Tecuari,
Eduard Ivak Dalam, Uston Nawawi, Bambang Pamungkas and Kurniawan
Dwi Julianto.

Kolev has also prepared a list of reserve players, one from
the Under-20 team Boaz Salossa and the other is Persikota star
Aliyudin.

Goalkeeper: Hendro Kartiko (Persebaya), Jendri Pitoy (Persikota),
I Komang Putra (PSIS)

Defender: Hari Saputra (Persikota), Djet Donal La'ala (Persija),
Firmansyah (Persikota), Warsidi (Persija), Bejo Sugiantoro
(Persebaya), Agung Setiabudi (PSIS), Aples Tecuari (Persija),
Wawan Widiantoro (Persik), Isnan Ali (Persikota)

Midfielder: Ponaryo Astaman (PSM), I Putu Gde (Arema), Eduard
Ivak Dalam (Persipura), Aris Sutanto (Persik), Budi Sudarsono
(Persija), Uston Nawawi (Persebaya)

Striker: Bambang Pamungkas (Persija), Elie Aiboy (Persija),
Kurniawan Dwi Julianto (Persebaya)

Reserves

Goalkeeper: Wahyudi (Persik)

Defender: Charis Yulianto (PSM), Maman (Persijatim), Supriyono
(Persikota), Alexandor Pulalo (Persib)

Midfielder: Anton Hermawan (Persikota), Samsul Haerudin (PSM),
Yaris Riyadi (Persib), Irsyad (PSM), Firman Utina (Persita),
Agus Indra (Persija), Salim Alaydrus (Pelita)

Striker: Gendut Doni (Persikota), Ilham Jayakusuma (Persita),
Komang Mariawan (PSPS), Purwanto (PSIS), Aliyudin (Persikota),
Boaz Salossa (Under-20 National team)