PSM likely to beat MBR in soccer final
PSM likely to beat MBR in soccer final
JAKARTA (JP): PSM Ujungpandang will win today's Dunhill league
final against Mastrans Bandung Raya (MBR) if it manages to play
consistently, a soccer observer told a press conference
yesterday.
"As an observer, I think PSM has a better opportunity of
becoming the champion of the Dunhill League final," Sinyo
Aliandoe said.
Sinyo, a former national coach, said that PSM Ujungpandang
will be relying on its two strikers Brazilian Jacksen Tiago and
Yusuf Ekodono.
"Their performances may well inspire the whole team," he
commented.
PSM will also count on M. Ayub Khan and Luciano Leandro to
hold the defense steady.
The Eastern Conference league winner reached the final after
upsetting Persipura Jayapura 4-3. MBR made the final after
winning the penalty shoot-out 4-2 against Mitra Surabaya in
Friday's other semifinal.
M. Basri, coach of PSM, expressed his hope that his team will
not have to win the cup with a penalty shoot-out in today's
final.
"Of course, we've prepared our penalty takers. But I'd prefer
our victory to come in normal time," he said.
Mursid, MBR's assistant coach, said that his team will try its
best to grab the trophy despite its less obvious power.
MBR's top scorer Dejan Glusevic, who usually partners striker
Peri Sandria, will not play in the final due to receiving a red
card in the Western conference match last month.
The final is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
The Indonesian Soccer Association's spokesman, Tondo Widodo,
hoped that the final, which will be watched by Vice President Try
Sutrisno, will not be colored by brawls and hooliganism.
Soccer fans vandalism exploded outside the stadium following
Mitra's loss, although 1,200 security officers had guarded the
stadium.
They smashed dozens of cars, which were parked near the
stadium and along Jl. Sudirman and the Semanggi clover leaf.
Hospital
Three MBR fans had to be taken to hospital after they were hit
with rocks thrown by Mitra's supporters.
"Mitra fans had been arriving in Jakarta since Thursday and by
Friday noon they had broken into the Indonesian Soccer League
office at the Senayan sports complex," Tondo said.
"They also demolished the fences in the stadium, which are
used to segregate the opposing teams' supporters," he added.
Tondo promised that the security for today's final will be
much better than for the semifinals.
"We still only have 1,200 officers but there will only be two
teams playing tomorrow. The situation will not be as high-
tempered as yesterday," he said.
Tondo said that the organizers have once again allocated
places for the supporters of each team.
Mursid complained that the team's players and officials could
not get onto their busses because they had been smashed.
"We have to go in a military vehicle to the hotel. We have
also called on 60 officers to guard the hotel because we're
frightened that something might happen," he said.
Mursid expressed hope that the officers will pay more
attention to the spectators instead of the game.
"I saw with my own eyes that most of the officers watched the
match instead of guarding the spectators," he said.
About 3,000 members of the MBR-supporters club are expected to
lead the team's support in today's final, which will start at
around 2:00 p.m.
The final will be proceeded by a women's soccer match, Tondo
said. (yan)