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)